Umno not outside party in Sabah - Ahmad Maslan
Ahmad Maslan
KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): After more than three decades in Sabah, Umno should no longer be regarded as an 'outside party' or a 'Malayan party' but as an integral part of the state's political scene landscape, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Umno Supreme Council member said it was inaccurate to suggest that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) were made up solely of Malayan parties, as both coalitions also included Sabah-based components.
'Some say PH and BN are just Malayan parties, but the fact is within BN there is Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), which is a local party, while PH also includes the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), also a local party.
'Saying that BN and PH are purely Malayan parties is incorrect, as both coalitions clearly have local component parties,' he told Bernama after officiating the 37th Selayang Umno Division Wanita Delegates' Meeting 2025 at the Event Space, Jalan Melati, Kuang Sungai Buloh on Sunday.
Ahmad, who is also the Umno War Room Secretariat chief, said he was responsible for mobilising the party's war room in Sabah, together with Sabah Umno Liaison secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin, to ensure the election machinery was more organised and effective ahead of the state polls.
He said the war room served not only to collect data but also brought together all party wings and the machinery, including Women, Youth, Puteri, and the information team, to enhance operations at the grassroots level.
'I am confident that with this approach, Umno, which previously won 14 seats, can increase its number of seats and achieve success in the upcoming state election,' he said.-Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
‘Ikan bilis' charged, ‘sharks' walk free: Businessman cries foul in Sabah graft case
Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, speaks to reporters after posting bail at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex on June 30, 2025. — Picture by Julia Chan/Malay Mail KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, the businessman at the centre of a high-profile Sabah mining licence corruption case, today claimed he was being used as a political scapegoat for exposing top-level wrongdoing, including allegations involving the state chief minister. The 37-year-old who is based in Selangor said it was shameful that he was the one in the dock while the real culprits remain free. 'I'm just an ikan bilis, but I've been caught and charged. What about the sharks?' he told reporters after being charged in court with offering bribes to two Sabah assemblymen this morning. He claimed there were seven other politicians involved apart from the two charged alongside him in court today – Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Andi Suryandy Bandy who represents Tanjung Batu, and Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob who is also Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman. Tei also claimed to have provided evidence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to support his allegations since last October. He questioned the lengthy delay – eight months – for the charges to be filed. He also described himself as a whistleblower, and said it set a dangerous message. 'When we challenge the powerful, even the whistleblower gets dragged to court. Who will dare come forward next?' Tei claimed the treatment of his case has been irregular, saying that he received only two weeks' notice before being charged, contrary to the standard MACC practice. 'Who am I? Just a small fry. Why the special two-week wait? What were they discussing behind closed doors?' he asked. He alleged that the prosecution against him was a calculated move to silence him. 'I want to say this. I know what they're thinking. They want to pressure and burden me, so that investigations won't proceed. So that I'll stay silent. I know what their game is. 'Today you charge two people. I will get bail. Tomorrow, another two more, and I will pay bail… you will continue to line them up… is this right?' he said. Tei also claimed to be targeted. 'If anything untoward happens to me after this, if I'm killed, kidnapped, or go missing, look for those 10 people. 'I have no enemies, except those 10,' he said. Tei had previously named politicians in a series of videos that circulated online. But he added that he is not afraid to fight the charges in court, His lawyer Edward Paul said it was 'rare' for a complainant to be charged alongside those he reported. 'This is rare, but we are ready. He is courageous and prepared to clear his name both as an accused and as a whistleblower,' he said. Tei had reportedly sought witness protection last year after accusing eight Sabah leaders in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah of accepting bribes in exchange for helping him secure a mining prospecting licence. Tei was today charged alongside Andi and Dr Yusof Yacob of offering and receiving a total of RM350,000 in cash bribes respectively. – Malay Mail
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Ikan bilis' charged, ‘sharks' walk free: Businessman cries foul in Sabah graft case
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 — Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, the businessman at the centre of a high-profile Sabah mining licence corruption case, today claimed he was being used as a political scapegoat for exposing top-level wrongdoing, including allegations involving the state chief minister. The 37-year-old who is based in Selangor said it was shameful that he was the one in the dock while the real culprits remain free. 'I'm just an ikan bilis, but I've been caught and charged. What about the sharks?' he told reporters after being charged in court with offering bribes to two Sabah assemblymen this morning. He claimed there were seven other politicians involved apart from the two charged alongside him in court today – Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Andi Suryandy Bandy who represents Tanjung Batu, and Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob who is also Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman. Tei also claimed to have provided evidence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to support his allegations since last October. He questioned the lengthy delay – eight months – for the charges to be filed. He also described himself as a whistleblower, and said it set a dangerous message. 'When we challenge the powerful, even the whistleblower gets dragged to court. Who will dare come forward next?' Tei claimed the treatment of his case has been irregular, saying that he received only two weeks' notice before being charged, contrary to the standard MACC practice. 'Who am I? Just a small fry. Why the special two-week wait? What were they discussing behind closed doors?' he asked. He alleged that the prosecution against him was a calculated move to silence him. 'I want to say this. I know what they're thinking. They want to pressure and burden me, so that investigations won't proceed. So that I'll stay silent. I know what their game is. 'Today you charge two people. I will get bail. Tomorrow, another two more, and I will pay bail... you will continue to line them up... is this right?' he said. Tei also claimed to be targeted. 'If anything untoward happens to me after this, if I'm killed, kidnapped, or go missing, look for those 10 people. 'I have no enemies, except those 10,' he said. Tei had previously named politicians in a series of videos that circulated online. But he added that he is not afraid to fight the charges in court, His lawyer Edward Paul said it was 'rare' for a complainant to be charged alongside those he reported. 'This is rare, but we are ready. He is courageous and prepared to clear his name both as an accused and as a whistleblower,' he said. Tei had reportedly sought witness protection last year after accusing eight Sabah leaders in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah of accepting bribes in exchange for helping him secure a mining prospecting licence. Tei was today charged alongside Andi and Dr Yusof Yacob of offering and receiving a total of RM350,000 in cash bribes respectively.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Suspended ex-Jempol MP Mohd Salim makes second bid to rejoin Umno, insists he's ‘proven my loyalty'
SEREMBAN, June 30 — Former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif has made a second bid to return to Umno after the party leaders signalled a softer stance. Mohd Salim, who was suspended for six years in January 2023 for breaching party discipline, said his first appeal was in 2024 and his second in April. 'I sincerely hope the party leadership will consider my appeals. 'Although I have been suspended, I have remained loyal to Umno and have been actively supporting members, especially in Jempol,' he was quoted as saying by The Star in an article today. He rubbished speculation that he would quit the party for another. 'Umno has been my party from day one. Although there had been lots of talk previously that I would quit the party and join another, I have proven my loyalty to Umno,' he was quoted as saying. In recent days, Umno's top two leaders indicated that they are open to reinstating several suspended veterans but required the affected members to make a formal application. Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said only two suspended members had formally applied for reinstatement: Mohd Salim and former Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman. Tajuddin's suspension was lifted on November 24 last year, with his membership reinstated immediately. Zahid and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan advised former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to write in after Sembrong Umno called for the latter's six-year suspension to be lifted.
