KOTA KINABALU, Sept 3 – The advent of the newly-registered Sabah-based party, United Sabah National Organisation (Baru), poses no threat to Sabah Umno’s popularity.
State Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (photo) also asserted that Baru – formed by local leaders who tried to revive the original United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) spirit among many Sabahans – had nothing to do with the original Usno.
He said the original struggle of Usno, founded by the late Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, the third chief minister of Sabah, in 1961, was being pursued or continued by Sabah Umno after the dissolution of the original Usno, to make way for Umno in 1990.
“We are not worried about or concerned over the registration of United Sabah National Organisation (Baru).
“Sabah Umno is solid and gained landslide support from the people, winning almost all allocated state seats (for Umno), except Klias, in the recent general election,” he told Bernama here on Tuesday.
Salleh, who is also state legislative assembly speaker, was asked to comment on the Registrar of Societies’ recent decision to approve 11 new political parties in Sabah.
The new parties from Sabah include Baru, Parti Gagasan Bersama Rakyat Sabah (Parti Bersama) and Parti Sejahtera Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (Sapu).
The others are Parti Kebangsaan Sabah (PKS), Pertubuhan Perpaduan Rakyat Kebangsaan Sabah (Perpaduan), Parti Kebenaran Sabah (Kebenaran), Parti Bersatu Bugis Sabah, Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sabah (Pers), Sabah Heritage Development Party, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Sabah Peace Party (Parti SPP).
Salleh said: “The approval of Baru, or even if they want it to be ultimately called ‘Usno Baru’, will not change the state’s political landscape.”
Expressing optimism that the Barisan Nasional would continue to be the number one choice of the people, he said Sabahans were politically matured and would not be easily hoodwinked by the opposition’s propaganda.
“I believe people want stability and progress and are enjoying the fruits of development under the Barisan Nasional government,” he said, adding the approval of the new parties concerned was in line with the principles of democracy practised in Malaysia.
– BERNAMA
