KUDAT: Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Musa Aman is not a leader who will turn his back on a friend in times of trouble.

Kudat Umno Division Chief Datuk Bolkiah Ismail said the Chief Minister was one of three leaders who stood their ground backing the late deputy party president Tun Ghafar Baba when he was challenged for the post by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1993.

“Everyone else gave their support to Anwar but not the late Tun Mustapha, Tan Sri Ampong and our Sabah chief now, Datuk Seri Musa,” he said in his opening speech in the joint division meeting opening by party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak for Zone 1, which includes Kudat, Kota Marudu, Tuaran and Kota Belud divisions.

Bolkiah was referring to Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, Tan Sri Ampong Puyon and Musa who was then the division chief for Marudu, Sandakan and Jambongan, respectively.

“Tun Mustapha said ‘I am not one who betrays a friend in trouble’ and I am proud to say our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa was one of them,” he said.-nst