Tuaran: All Sabah Umno members continue to support the demands for Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, said Sabah Umno Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
“I have clearly stated this to Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This is the position taken by Sabah Umno,” he said at the Tuaran Umno meeting, Saturday.
“So I advise some parties to stop slandering Sabah Umno. Just stop it. It is silly, and you look stupid doing so. Move on.”
Abdul Rahman, who is also Tuaran Umno chief, said that accusing Sabah Umno members of betraying the struggle for Sabah’s rights just because they support Umno is an insult to the intellect of Bumiputera Muslims in the State.
“In my view, overly extreme regional sentiments are unsuitable for Sabah in the long term.
“An isolationist policy, an inward-looking policy, will not benefit Sabah.
“Sabah cannot view outsiders as enemies because, in this day and age, no country, state, or region can persist without collaboration or cooperation with one another based on principles of mutual respect and assistance.
“Regarding ‘Malaya,’ I want to reiterate that Umno is not a Malayan party supposedly seeking to colonise Sabah,” he said.
He said Bumiputera Muslims in Sabah have been seeking a national Bumiputera Muslim party capable of uniting them.
“That is why, for 30 years, Sabah Umno has been accepted by Bumiputera Muslims as their shelter and hope up to this day.”
He further said that being a member of a national party aligns somewhat with the aspirations of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) when Sabah’s representation in national parties has a significant voice in determining who their party president is and who could become the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
