KOTA KINABALU (Dec 12): The entire Sabah UMNO liaison committee, including chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and almost all the divisional chiefs announced their resignation from the party today, severely crippling Sabah UMNO.
Hajiji announced at a press conference that five MPs, nine state assemblymen and two senators from Sabah UMNO have quit the party with immediate effect.
He named the MPs as Datuk Ronald Kiandee (Beluran); Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang); Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort); Datuk Zakaria Edris (Libaran) and Datuk Rahim Bakri (Kudat).
Hajiji also announced that Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup, who had stood on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket in the 14th general election, has also quit the coalition.
The nine assemblymen are Hajiji himself (Sulaman); Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan); Datuk Japlin Akim (Usukan); Datuk Musbah Jameh (Tempasuk); Datuk Gulam Haidar Khan (Kawang); Datuk Mohd Arifin Arif (Membakut); Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias); Matbali Musah (Lumadan) and Datuk Nizam Titingan (Apas).
The two senators are Datuk Ghani Yassin and Datuk John Ambrose.
Kota Belud UMNO Division chief and former Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak is one of the divisional heads to have resigned.
The other divisional chiefs are Datuk Gurahman Lolong (Kudat); Datuk Wetrom Bahanda (Kota Marudu); Hajiji (Tuaran); Datuk Faisyal Deigo (Kota Kinabalu); Datuk John Ambrose (Penampang); Datuk Seri Rahim Ismail (Papar); Datuk Arifin Arif (Kimanis, acting); Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Beaufort); Datuk Sapawi Ahmad (Sipitang).
Datuk Ghani Yassin (Pensiangan); Datuk Sairin Karno (Keningau); Samad Jambri (Beluran); Datuk Awang Kadin (Sandakan); Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi); Abdul Hakim Sidek (Silam); Datuk Ramlee Marhaban (Semporna); Datuk Nizam Titingan (Tawau); Datuk Juslie Ajirul; (Libaran); Datuk Arsit Sedi (Putatan) and Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.(Ranau).
Hajiji also said that the Wanita UMNO chief and divisional chiefs and the Puteri UMNO chief and divisional chiefs have also quit.
He said only the chiefs of the Tenom, Kalabakan, Sepanggar and Kinabatangan party divisions have yet to state their stand.