KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno will be “communicating” with their Umno counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia to justify reasons to nominate Chief Minister and Sabah Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman to contest one of the three Umno vice president posts at this year’s party election.
“As leaders from Sabah, we have solid grounds and we feel they will be convinced and agreed with us that Musa is the best choice to be slotted as one of the three vice-presidents,” said Sabah Umno liaison deputy chief Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Said Keruak here yesterday.
Salleh, who is also State Legislative Assembly Speaker, was asked to comment on Deputy Chief Minister cum State Umno liaison secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin’s recent statement that Sabah Umno was ready to mobilise its machinery nationwide if Musa decided to run for the Umno vice-president in the party elections this October.
Yahya was also quoted as saying that so far more than 20 Umno divisions had publicly stated full support for Musa, adding that the latter was among the top three candidates for the Umno Supreme Council post in the party elections for two consecutive terms.
“The full support from more over 20 divisions is based on their confidence in the capability and capacity of Datuk Seri Musa as a party leader,” Yahya was quoted as saying.
Salleh said Musa, noted for spearheading the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) to retain the state with a two-thirds majority by winning 48 of the 60 state seats in the recent 13th general election, had proven his commitment, hard work and total loyalty to the party.
The state BN also won 22 of 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah to contribute to the formation of the BN government at the federal level.
Salleh also expressed confidence that Musa would be able, together with other leaders, to strengthen Umno to win another battle comfortably in the next general election.
He (Musa) will give his views honestly and truthfully representing not only Sabah but also party members, Salleh said.
“The vice-president post is a key position in the party and members must be given voice. We will certainly present views from our counterparts in Kuala Lumpur to our Chief Minister.
“At the end of the day, Musa will have the final say (whether to contest or otherwise) after considering all factors for the good of Sabah and the party,” said Salleh.