JOHOR BAHRU – Sabah Bersatu is expected to "close down" following the action of 14 members of the State Legislative Assembly announcing their exit from the party on Saturday.
Umno supreme council (MKT) member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi claimed that Bersatu has no grassroots (in Sabah) and that the grassroots in the state were originally from Umno who jumped to Bersatu.
"When Umno lost power in the 14th General Election (GE14), 21 Sabah Umno division chiefs jumped to Bersatu. There were only three people who remained loyal, namely Bung Mokhtar, Yaakub Khan and Ramie Unggi.
"The 21 divisions are held by newcomers including two women. Is Sabah Umno dead? Sabah Umno rose again and won the Kimanis by-election and the Sabah state election.
"That means that Sabah Umno has the grassroots. Now it's Bersatu's turn. Everyone left Bersatu and will form a new party. Will there be any more Bersatu in Sabah?.
"Bersatu has no grassroots. The grassroots of the party came from Umno who jumped to Bersatu. Without power in the state government, Bersatu can close shop in Sabah," he said in a statement on his Facebook on Sunday.
Previously, the Bersatu Sabah leadership announced their decision to quit the party.
The announcement was made by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor after considering the state of the country's current political landscape.