Sabah Umno set to get autonomy: Mohamad

TUARAN: Sabah Umno is set to get autonomy in terms of administration and decision-making, said Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic).

However, he said, the autonomy is not to be decided by the party leadership but through the party’s general assembly to be held in November.

“We have no issue with the autonomy of Sabah Umno as we are looking at the long-term benefits,” he said after the opening the annual general meeting of the Tuaran Umno division headed by Datuk Seri Rahman Dahlan.

“We have to look at the sustainability of Umno in Sabah and in order to be sustainable, Sabah Umno should be autonomous.

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“We want Sabah Umno to help bring in the parliamentary seats to enable us to form the federal government in the next general election.”

Such autonomy, said Mohamad, will not only benefit Sabah Umno but also Umno in whole.

“Sabah Umno should be strengthened and we cannot sell the ‘penyatuan ummah’ agenda, which was used in the peninsula, in Sabah as it is not relevant.

“The autonomy of Sabah Umno is a ‘wow factor’ for the party and I think we can sell that,” he said.

Dahlan, who is an Umno Supreme Council member, described the proposed autonomy as a historical move by the party.

“Sabah Umno will literally be a local party with some roots of a national party.

“Previously, there were several national parties which tried to get similar autonomy, but failed.

“This time around, we managed to convince the supreme Umno leadership that this is the best time to offer the autonomy status to Sabah Umno.

“What we seek is something which can help Umno…for example, deciding on the election candidates.

“Previously, there are many matters which we have to refer to Kuala Lumpur.

“Devolution of powers and decentralisation, is a global trend.

“The government or political parties should not be afraid of decentralisation. If we looked at it negatively in the past, we should do otherwise now.”

Dahlan said the autonomy for Sabah Umno will include administration, membership, disciplinary matters and candidacy.

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“And this is just the beginning. What we intend to do is to be independent in stating our views and to be allowed to give a different view than Umno Malaysia,” he said.

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