Sabah BN should not be disheartened, says Ahmad Maslan

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USE WISELY: Ahmad (second left) handing over the ‘Duit Raya’ to orphans. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: Umno Information Chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan reminded Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) ‘not to be disheartened’ following the defection of its four elected representatives compared with 13 opposition members who had switched over.

Ahmad, who is also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said BN had more suitable and competent alternative candidates to continue the party’s struggle and establish the truth in the party machinery.

“I want to remind Sabah BN members not to be disheartened as only four members of parliament had left the party, while 13 elected representatives from the opposition had defected – six from PKR, five PKR state assemblymen became independent, one from DAP and one from PAS (Datuk Dr Hassan Ali) who defected from the party during this term.

“If they say BN collapses, they are wrong because the figure shows the opposition had collapsed, and not BN,” he told Bernama after attending Nur Ramadan programme and performing tarawih at Masjid Jamek Kampung Likas, here last night.

Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) defected from BN on Sept 17, 2008 which resulted in BN losing two parliamentary seats, namely Sepanggar and Tawau, and two state seats, Likas and Luyang.

Last Saturday, Lajim announced his resignation as an Umno Supreme Council member, Beaufort Umno Division Chief and Beaufort BN Chairman with immediate effect but remained as Umno member.

The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) deputy president Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing announced on Sunday his resignation from the party.

Both the leaders announced the setting up of Sabah Reform Front.

Ahmad said those four Parliament members including Sepanggar (Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun) and Tawau (Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui) who left the party in 2008 had been deceived by the promises of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to rule Malaysia on Sept 16, 2008.

“…now Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin and Tuaran MP (Bumburing) will be fooled by the promises of Anwar who claimed the opposition will rule Malaysia,” he said.

Earlier, Ahmad attended a breaking of fast programme at Kampung Pantai Manis mosque, Kota Belud with state Umno deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and announced a RM10,000 allocation to repair the mosque. — Bernama