KUALA LUMPUR: A Sabah delegate at the Umno General Assembly has criticised party members who 'keluar sekejap' (temporarily left the party), saying they should just leave the party for good.

This, according to Sabah Umno strategic communication director Datu Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman was because the existing Umno members were enough to defend the party.

"Those who are leaving the party temporarily, if they want to permanently leave the party is also fine.

"We are still here to defend Umno," he said during a debate on the party president's policy speech.

It is believed that Datu Rosman was referring to former information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan and former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

In January, Khairy was sacked by the party while Shahril was suspended for six years. Both are now hosts of the 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast.

In his debate, Datu Rosman also said that he was not worried about the opportunists who decided to jump ship.

"I am not worried about our numbers getting smaller, but I am more worried if we are divided and not united.

"We cannot be successful if we are divided," he said.

Datu Rosman also expressed hope that there will be no episode of betrayal as the party is set to face the state polls and the next general election. - Reporting by Adib Povera, Hana Naz Harun, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi and Qistina Sallehuddin

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/06/918398/keluar-sekejap-just-leave-party-permanently-says-sabah-umno