Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded Umno members and the people of Sabah not to be influenced by an attempt by outsiders to “Brexit” Sabah from Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Ahmad Zahid said the action of these outsiders, including former state and national Umno leaders, was wrong and could have a negative impact on the people and the state of Sabah.

"If there are people from outside or those who used to be in BN, who tried to get the Sabahans out of the Umno and BN, they are wrong," he said, when opening the Umno Zone Three delegates conference at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bongawan near Papar today.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman; Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who is also Kimanis Umno chief; Papar Umno chief Abdul Rahim Ismail and Beaufort Umno chief Isnin Aliasni.

Brexit is an abbreviation for “British exit”, referring to the United Kingdom’s decision in a June 23, 2016, referendum to leave the European Union (EU).

Ahmad Zahid said some of the Brexit voters had regretted their move because the results were not as good as they had hoped for.

"Sabah does not want to be Malaysia’s ‘Brexit’. Sabah does not want BN and Umno to lose. Not the leaders who have to deal with the consequences but the people,” he said.

If Sabah leaves Umno and BN, the risk is too high as what some previous state governments had faced when they set up governments that were not in line with the federal government, he said.

Hence, he said the current political situation in Sabah, in which there was a power-sharing among BN component parties, should be continued for political stability, even though the state legislative assembly seats would later be increased from 60 to 73.

"I hope our friends in BN will not put pressure on the chief minister. We hope that our friends in BN will negotiate accordingly. The important thing is not the allocation of seats but that Umno and BN can rule comfortably in Sabah,” he said.

- Bernama