Abdul Rahman: Umno better off with Shafie leaving

(MMO) – Former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s exit from the party was expected and not a loss to Umno, said Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

In an immediate response to Shafie’s announcement, the Sabah Barisan Nasional secretary quickly downplayed any possible fallout in Umno from his former Cabinet colleague’s departure.

“Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s decision to leave Umno is not surprising at all. It was expected. All this while, his movement was harming the party,” the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department wrote on Twitter.

“Umno is not strong because of an individual, but because of its mission. Leaders come and go. What always remains constant is the struggle,” he said, adding that the party was prepared to face anyone who wanted to challenge it.

Abdul Rahman maintained that Shafie’s resignation will not rock the state Umno chapter or the Semporna division headed by the latter, which reportedly suffered mass resignations following Shafie’s suspension.

Earlier today, Shafie announced he was leaving the party in response to its decision to suspend him while the disciplinary board investigates allegations of misconduct.

Shafie denied any wrongdoing and criticised the party for taking action without getting his explanation.

On June 24, Umno announced that it was sacking deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir for cooperating with the opposition, while Shafie was to be suspended.

Shafie was among the first casualties of Umno infighting over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue, when he was dropped from the Cabinet along with Muhyiddin in a reshuffle last year.