LAHAD DATU, Jul 28 – The setting up of 30 new Umno branches in the Silam division indicates that the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) government is still the people’s preferred choice, especially in Sabah, says division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal. Describing this as a positive development, he said it also proved that Umno was getting even stronger here as it already had 480 branches, covering the state seats of Lahad Datu, Kunak and Tungku, which made up the Silam parliamentary constituency.
“We have always encouraged the people to join the party through the branches and with 30 more branches set up lately, Silam now has the biggest number of Umno branches in the country. This approach is also to ensure Silam Umno remains strong by facilitating those keen to join the party to set up a branch,” Mohd Yusof, who is also Lahad Datu assemblyman, told Bernama when met here today.
He said having more branches would also help ease management of the large Silam constituency and in serving the party members and constituents better. “More branches will be set up while others are going through the approval process,” said Mohd Yusof, who is the younger brother of former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is now Parti Warisan Sabah president.
Meanwhile, he advised Umno members not to form factions as this would only weaken the party, but to remain united to ensure victory for the party in the coming general election. He said those who quit the party and joined the opposition bloc were not committed to their work while in the party, and that was why they could easily be influenced by the opposition. “The active Umno members, on the other hand, remain loyal to the party as they value the party,” he added. — Bernama
