BINGKASAN ON UPKO

THE 13th UPKO Triennial Conference was held 23-25 Sept 2011 at the Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah, Penampang, officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Various topics were discussed. I took part in debating the President's speech. Was the No Six. And I thought I just spoke for a couple of minutes when the Permanent Speaker Datuk Herman Tiongsoh reminded me that I had only a minute left of the 10minutes allocated time...

And, well, Borneo Post deemed it worth publishing. Tqvm Nancy.

The picture - its not of the congress - but a picture (from right) of Pancratius Edward Pudin the Press Secretary, Frederick Mosom the Principal Private Secretary and myself. 

Upko is here to stay.....

DOMPOK RCI CALL SET UPKO CONGRESS TONE

BY NANCY LAI

PENAMPANG, 25 SEPT 2011: The call that the Government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants set the tone of United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization’s (UPKO) 13^th triennial delegates conference here yesterday.

From party President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok to the delegates, they all share same opinion that only a Royal Commission of Inquiry can resolve the perennial problem which is the bane of Sabahans.

Dompok, in his policy speech, stressed that it will take nothing less than a Royal Commission of Inquiry to resolve the problem and this was echoed by most of the delegates who took part in the debate on the president’s speech.

Deputy Upko Youth Chief Masiung Banah went as far as requesting that the federal Government be given a deadline in the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry because the country’s sovereignty must not be compromised.

“The country’s leaders must not compromise on the issue of security,” he said and also urged UPKO leadership to consider recommending a leader from the Youth movement for a Senatorship.

Putatan Youth Chief Mark Silak when debating Dompok’s speech pointed out that the people in Sabah are tired of debating the illegal immigrant issue.

The people feel that the Government, especially the Federal Government, is not sincere in its efforts to resolve the illegal immigrant issue which has been described as the ‘mother of all problems’

Mark added, “will Barisan Nasional (BN) still be able to garner the people’s support in the coming 13 general election as its failure to resolve the illegal immigrants problem is causing Sabahans to hate the Government?

“Will UPKO be sacrificed in the coming election because of the rakyat’s hatred?” he questioned.

Some of the delegates who participated in the debate also touched on what Dompok has said in his speech about his commitment to the party and members.

“That is why today, I gave the commitment to pursue all the outstanding issues which I mentioned today. As President of this party I feel it is incumbent upon me to take full responsibility when the voices of the people and the party members are not heard. That is the measure of my commitment to our cause,” he had said.

Upko Sepanggar’s representative, Albert Bingkasan was of the opinion that Dompok’s statement was very personal and it reflects the latter’s loyalty to the party.

“How personal can you get… also UPKO Deputy President Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing recently said that there is no questioning his loyalty to the party. The statements of UPKO’s top two leaders gives the impression that they are alone.

“We must not let them feel that they are alone so I urge all of you my fellow members to think what you can do and contribute to the party,” he said.

Albert also reminded the members that they should not always expect something in return for doing things for the party.

“Please start contributing, no matter how small, to the party as a little goes a long way,” he said.

Albert also spoke about the then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamed’s commitment made some years ago, that in the true spirit of the Barisan Nasional coalition, Umno will not contest in more than 50 per cent of the number of seats in any General Election.

In view of what Mahathir said, Albert requested that the BN leadership consider giving the opposition held seats to component party other than Umno.

“If asking for a review of the seats allocation is too difficult to comply with, then we have the right to fight for so that the SAPP held seats is allocated to a party other than Umno in the coming general election,” he said. THE BORNEO POST