Kota Kinabalu: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Supreme Council Member Datuk John Ambrose said the expansion of the Madani Village Development Committee (JKDM) only to Sabah is a desperate tactic to shore up declining support for Umno in Sabah.

He said the claim that is because Sabah Umno has been left out of grassroots positions is false because despite being in the opposition at State level, many Sabah Umno leaders are actually enjoying positions and allocations.

“Why is Deputy Prime Minister cum Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno President, interfering in State matters? 

“His reason that grassroots positions are dominated by GRS component parties is a lie. Hajiji (Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor) has been very fair. Even Sabah Umno Wanita Chief, a Senator, has been given allocation to assist the people, especially in Penampang.