The new United Sabah National Organisation (Usno Baru) was registered five years ago but it is only now free to recruit members. Its status was plunged into uncertainty following an internal squabble.
Usno Baru was one of 20 new political parties approved nationwide by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) in 2013.
The party was formed after the old Usno, founded by Sabah’s third chief minister Datu Mustapha Harun in 1967, was deregistered by the RoS in 1996.
The party ruled the state from 1967 until 1975, the year it was defeated by Berjaya in the state election. The old party was dissolved to make way for Umno, which set foot in Sabah in 1991.
Usno Baru held its annual general meeting (AGM), which lasted two hours, here today after it received notice from RoS stating the party must hold its AGM within a month from Nov 7.
Ten out of the 13 members of the party’s original protem committee attended the meeting which saw Ibrahim Linggam elected as the president after beating protem president Dulli Tiaseh.
Ibrahim garnered eight votes against Dulli’s two.
“We’re glad it’s all over. Now, it’s a new beginning for us and soon we will start going around to recruit members,” Ibrahim said after the meeting.
He said the meeting, party elections and appointment of committee members were held in compliance with RoS regulations, adding that the party was previously barred from holding any activities pending a final decision by RoS.
The party has not aligned itself to the government or the opposition, he said, adding that it has chosen to remain neutral for the time being.
“Our focus at the moment is to put our house in order. We will be calling our first Supreme Council meeting soon to discuss where we stand and our direction,” Ibrahim said, adding Usno Baru would be a multiracial party.
Newly-appointed deputy president Leong Chan Chu, a Supreme Council member in the old Usno, reckons Usno Baru will be well accepted by Sabahans.
“This is because Usno is synonymous with Sabah’s independence.
“I call on all the old Usno sympathisers, even if they are now sitting on the fence, to come and join our struggle,” she said.
Secretary-general Matbee Ismail parried questions on claims that Usno Baru was actually a political vehicle for Umno members in the state but noted that the party welcomes anyone on board.
“Just like any political party, we aspire to be the government one day,” he said.