The Semporna Umno division is on the right track in the party struggle, said party vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein.

The defence minister said Umno accepted the fact that the division's chief Mohd Shafie Afdal had chosen a different path in line with his personal principles and stand.

He said the Semporna Umno division, which was now headed by its acting chief Nasir Sakaran, was not angry at the action of Mohd Shafie and several other leaders at the division for leaving the party.

"We are not angry and will still continue with the struggle of Umno because Umno is not a personal property but inherited from our forefathers.

"It is normal in politics that leaders come and go. We must realise that the party struggle is more important than personal interests," he said when opening the Semporna Umno division delegates meeting at the Semporna multi-purpose hall today.

Almost 5,000 members of the division attended the meeting. Also present were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin and Sakaran Dandai, an Umno veteran and Sabah's first Umno liaison committee chairperson.

Hishammuddin said there was a silver lining at what had transpired as it had been handled in a mature manner without feelings of disappointment and anger.

He said Umno members must return to the basis of party struggle to overcome and control the problem and to continue to champion the party agenda.

Meanwhile, Nasir said the division was now standing firm again and was prepared to face the coming general election.

He said the action of several division leaders to quit the party did not shaken and weaken the struggle of Umno in the division.

On the other hand, he said, the Umno division leadership, who were loyal to the party struggle, endeavoured to the maximum to find a formula to unite veteran leaders and from the younger group.

- Bernama