UMNO leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied any split in the party’s leadership in Sabah.

His statement followed the absence of Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin at the party’s Tuaran meeting this morning, which Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji Noor attended.

A feud between Bung Moktar and Hajiji has been rumoured since the cooperation between GRS-Umno took power after the state election in 2020.

Their tension culminated when Sabah Umno withdrew its support to GRS on Jan 3 last year. 

The decision was believed to have caused a rift within Sabah Umno, with some state Umno leaders still supporting GRS, while a faction led by Bung Moktar does not.

“There is no split (within Sabah Umno). Bung had another engagement this morning.

“Umno wants to be friends with all parties, so we’ve taken a soft approach in Tuaran,” said Zahid.

Bung Moktar’s absence was evident when Zahid launched the Tuaran divisional meeting at 9 am today.

The Tuaran divisional chief is Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Zahid described Hajiji as an old friend who he had known when he was still in Usno.

“My concept of this is that an enemy to my enemy is also a friend of mine… So I can tell that although we sleep on different pillows, our dream is the same.

“What I’m trying to say here is that we are in the same team at the national level, but the problems in the state, we need to have a formula,” he said. – The Vibes, June 22, 2024.