BUNG Moktar Radin said he will not entertain calls for him to step down as Sabah Umno chief over his corruption case and declared he would continue to lead the party’s state chapter.

The Kinabatangan MP was urged to resign as Sabah Umno chief after he and his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of corruption and abetment over a RM150 million Felcra investment.

Sabah rights activist James Ligunjang said it was crucial for political leaders accused of wrongdoing to take a temporary leave of absence until their names were cleared.

Bung however argued the charge brought against him in 2019 had not distracted him from carrying out his responsibilities as an Umno chief and as an elected representative.

Bung is also the Lamag assemblyman.

“I still go down to the ground. And this week, I will be meeting the constituents as I always do,” he told FMT today.

Bung also said such calls by NGOs and activists for leaders to resign from their positions were the norm.

“But I’m not going to entertain calls from NGOs who are biased and are of little prominence.

“When it comes to internal party matters, Umno will decide.”

Earlier today, Zaid Ibrahim urged Bung to resist calls to step down as Sabah Umno chief over his corruption case, saying the MP will not win any extra votes by resigning from the post.

The former law minister said resigning amid serious charges before any decision was taken by the courts was both naive and impractical in the current political landscape where he said laws are often weaponised against political opponents.