Razaleigh claims Sabah backing to take on Abdullah

Razaleigh claims Sabah backing to take on Abdullah
14 June, 2008

(NST) - Umno supreme council member Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah claims he has the backing from Sabah to challenge Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the party presidency in December.

The Gua Musang MP said he has no problem accepting a Sabahan to contest the deputy and vice-president’s posts.

“When I was in Sabah, I was asked if Sabahans were allowed to contest and I told them I was open to the matter.

“I don’t think there are any differences between a Sabahan and a West Malaysian. They have the capability and in fact some of them are better than the people here,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Umno members, here, where he briefed them on the current issues and problems facing the party.
Tengku Razaleigh denied claims that Sabah Umno members were not given a chance to contest for top posts.

He said as Umno had its origins in the peninsula and had gone to Sabah not too long ago, most members in the peninsula were still not familiar with their Sabah Umno members.