UMNO In Sarawak

Has Umno made inroads in Sarawak?

KUCHING: Has Umno decided to set foot in Sarawak?
Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu’s (PBB) deputy president Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg wants the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to look into media reports that a group of people had set up Sarawak Umno.
“It is very glaring. We leave it to the ROS and it has to look into it,” said the state housing minister.
Yesterday, local newspapers reported that a Sarawak Umno pro tem committee had set up an office at the Matang Jaya Commercial Centre here and photographs showed an Umno signboard with the party emblem and flags hung outside the premises.
The news report also quoted businessman Affendi Jeman, who claimed to be the Sarawak Umno pro tem chairman, as saying that he had started Sarawak Umno last September based on popular demand.
He also claimed that the pro tem committee had helped to form 35 branches throughout the state.
Admitting that Sarawak Umno had yet to get official endorsement from Umno headquarters, Affendi said the pro tem committee members had met Umno leaders regularly and that the latter “know what we are doing.”
Johari, who earlier opened the Red Crescent Kuching Chapter’s charity food sale, has often dismissed talk of Umno setting up shop in Sarawak as Umno leaders had often said in the past that the party would not spread its wings into the state.
PBB is one of four parties in Sarawak Barisan Nasional. Sarawak is the only state where Umno has not set foot in.
Johari said Umno officials had asked him about people claiming to be from Sarawak Umno helping out at the recent Machap by-election, and, now, the Ijok by-election.
“They asked me these people are. We know who they are.”

tunku : Is Umno really making inroads to Sarawak? There's no official back up from Umno HQ but it is backed up by several ex PBB leaders for sure. The best thing is Sarawak should allow Umno to enter to Sarawak IF it has supports from people.Let them come in, those interested to join can join them, why worry.Afterall Sarawak is part of Malaysia not an autonomy state.If other parties like dap/pkr can come in Sarawak, why not UMNO. I guess the actual reason they don't allow Umno to enter Sarawak is they(the power holdings)are scared to lose their position.