70 Umno branches in Kota Kinabalu request RoS probe embezzlement allegations

KOTA KINABALU - Some 70 branches of Umno from the Kota Kinabalu Division request the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to investigate allegations of embezzlement and misconduct within the division.

Spokesperson for the group, Dr Zulfikar Zulkifli said that a report was filed with RoS after all procedures had been followed, but Umno took no action at the division, state, and central levels.

The allegation is that there were unauthorised changes in branch members, causing members to be unable to fulfill their voting responsibilities.

"Today, I, along with the Umno branch leaders of Kota Kinabalu Division, filed a report with RoS regarding embezzlement and misconduct that occurred within the Kota Kinabalu Division.

"Among the main issues is the unauthorized changing of branch members without the members' consent, rendering them unable to vote due to being part of unfamiliar branches.

"This incident damages the rights and responsibilities of the members themselves as they are unable to vote in their respective branches," he said during a press conference after filing the report at the RoS office in Wisma MAA, here today.

Zulfikar, who is also the Pasar Baru branch chief, alleged that this is a white-collar crime as it is done through the Umno system, where individuals responsible insert the relevant data into the system.

"Recently, we were instructed to conduct a re-election on July 1 and 2, but the core issue of unauthorised member transfers has yet to be resolved, so how can we conduct a fair election?

"We were also surprised that new embezzlement was detected during the election, with our representatives being reduced in number, either replaced, transferred, or dismissed.

"For instance, in one branch, the women's representatives should have been five, but only three were entered into the system, even though during the branch meeting, the five individuals were identified.

"I can say this is a white-collar crime.

"We want to know who the culprits are because within the Umno system, we can identify who enters data using whose account," he said.

He urged RoS to conduct a detailed investigation into the matters occurring within the Umno Kota Kinabalu division.

"I hope RoS will investigate as this organisation serves as the 'police' in matters of association, and we hope appropriate actions will be taken promptly," he said.

It is understood that there are approximately 10,000 members involved in the 70 branches of Umno Kota Kinabalu division.