KUALA LUMPUR: Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin was named as Sabah Umno liaison chairman, replacing Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, with immediate effect, said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Also announced were Datuk Yakub Khan (Sepanggar Umno division head) as Sabah Umno liaison deputy chairman, Datuk Jeffri Ariffin as secretary and Datuk Raime Unggi (Tenom Umno division head) as information chief.
“Tomorrow, Umno vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, will be meeting the new line-up to further discuss Umno division chief posts,” he said at a press conference held at its headquarters today.
Present were Ismail Sabri, Mahdzir, secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Zahid said Umno in Sabah will continue to function as usual.
“Immediate measures are underway to further strengthen Umno in Sabah, including reshuffling the Umno state liaison.”
Earlier today, five members of parliament and nine state assemblymen from Sabah announced their departure from Umno effective today.
The MPs were Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Datuk Zakaria Idris (Libaran) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang).
The assemblymen were Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Datuk Japlin Akin (Usukan), Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor (Sulaman), Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar (Kawang), Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Datuk Matbali Musbah (Lumadan), Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan) and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).