KOTA KINABALU: Youth Exco of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Johainizamshah Johari has been cautioned not ‘to behave like a hero’ after making absurd claims that revealed his little understanding of Sabah’s political history.
Putatan UMNO Youth Vice Chief, Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali, said Johainizamshah needs to be re-schooled because Sabah UMNO has not lost power, as claimed in his statement yesterday.
He reminded him that immediately after the Sabah State Election (PRN) in 2020, UMNO actually gave in a lot to make room for Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor to become the Chief Minister of Sabah.
“BERSATU in PRN 2020 only won 11 seats, while Sabah UMNO secured 14 seats. Logically, why do you (GRS) give in a lot when the fact is that GRS has enjoyed various positions as a result of Sabah UMNO’s own sacrifices?
“Johainizamshah… don’t deny the fact that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin himself thanked UMNO Sabah for giving way to Hajiji Noor to become the Chief Minister of Sabah,” he said in a statement today.
Apart from that, Mohamad Syazwan Shah said Sabah UMNO remembered vividly that even though “they were given the most seats in PRN 2020, some independent candidates contested and won the seats”.
It is evident that UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah are targets of sabotage, as evidenced by the fact that some of the victorious independent candidates have joined PGRS or GRS.
“In fact, there were several independent candidates who were clearly and confirmed members of Bersatu at the time,” explained Mohamad Syazwan Shah.
He asserted that Johainizamshah’s claims that a number of Sabah UMNO leaders are receiving significant jobs in GLC government-affiliated businesses are not accurate.
“You may even observe for yourself that Sabah UMNO is not viewed as a strategic partner, but rather as a “instrument” to fulfil the requirements for supporting the formation of the state government, as evidenced by the nomination of the cabinet following PRN 2020,” he added.
“Before becoming the Minister of JKR (Works), Sabah UMNO Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin was appointed to the position of Minister of Housing and Local Government.
“Almost all GRS at the time had significant ministries. You can see here who is really crazy about power and who wants to use who to stay in power.” said Mohamad Syazwan Shah.
