Jainab said Anifah’s decision, while shocking, did not affect the confidence of party members on the direction of Sabah Umno.

“Sabah Umno is strong and solid. Within Umno and also in other political parties, leaders come and go. When one leader leaves the party, his place will be taken over by someone else.

“Therefore, what is happening within Umno now is a process towards helping shore up and reinforce the party’s struggle in Sabah,” she said.

Jainab, the former state community development and consumer affairs minister and Karambunai assemblywoman, said Sabah Umno Wanita respected Anifah’s decision to leave.

She dismissed claims by Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin that more Umno MPs would resign in the following days.

“For us in Umno Wanita, we will remain loyal to the party but those who want to leave, we will not stop them,” she added.

Yesterday, Anifah announced his resignation from Umno citing the party’s inability to fulfil its promise to restore the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Jainab, who is also Sepanggar Umno chief, said Sabah Umno would continue to fight for the interests and rights of the people of Sabah.