PBS says 'No' to Kurup
Joe FernandezPublished: Jan 22, 2009 5:29 AM | Updated: Jan 22, 2009 8:00 AM
The stakes are getting higher on Pensiangan in the continuing war of words over the seat between Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, both component members of the ruling BN.
The stakes are getting higher on Pensiangan in the continuing war of words over the seat between Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), both component members of the ruling BN.
PBS secretary-general Radin Malleh has a blunt message for PBRS president Joseph Kurup: “What makes you think that you can win Pensiangan, if and when a by-election is called?”
“It seems that Kurup has forgotten the constituency was never won by PBRS in the real sense of the word but he was given a free ride in the spirit of the BN,” said Radin who had only harsh words for Kurup following the latter’s personal attack yesterday on PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan for ruling him out as the automatic choice in the impending by-election for Pensiangan.
“Kurup himself is the one who doesn’t know how to read the political situation and local sentiment in Pensiangan, Radin said adding that “the voters there want a local and a Murut to be the candidate in Pensiangan because most of them are from this community.”
Kurup, according to Radin, should rule himself out of the running for the by-election since he’s neither a local nor a Murut and besides, he has lost before not only there but in other seats as well. Kurup, a Kadazan, has previously claimed to be a Murut.
Do soul-searching
Taking Kurup to task for questioning Pairin on his record of public service and ridiculing him in the media, Radin pointed out that Kurup has failed the people wherever he represented them and this is evident from the talk on the ground.
“The voters point out that Kurup has been, for example, the state assemblyperson for Sook from 1985 to 1999 and again from 2004 to 2008 but failed to deliver on his promises,” said Radin. “He has also been a state finance minister and deputy chief minister during that period and now deputy federal minister for rural and national development.”
“Pensiangan - covering Sook and Nabawan - is lacking even basic amenities and development.”
Radin advised Kurup to think of the people of Pensiangan and not just of himself. “Kurup should do some soul-searching for the sake of the people in Pensiangan as well as the fate of the BN,” added Radin.
Pensiangan has come under greater scrutiny by the State BN following successive defeats in Kuala Terengganu recently and earlier in Permatang Pauh which was won by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. Pairin thinks that the recent history of disastrous defeats will repeat itself if the wrong candidate is chosen and appeared to rule out Kurup as the standard bearer for the BN.
Kurup has taken offence at Pairin’s remarks, which carry the weight of some authority, and retaliated by hitting him below the belt with remarks which have not gone down well with PBS and State BN leaders.
“As much as I would not like to say anything, I am compelled to do so in response to Pairin’s interference in this well-prepared machinery by raising the question of the candidate for Pensiangan,” said Kurup in his defence yesterday before going on to make some unsavoury comments. “His (Pairin’s) remarks will undoubtedly weaken, to an extent, our election machinery. His ill-conceived remarks are definitely not in the oft-mentioned slogan about the BN spirit.”
Briefly, he claimed that people know who to vote for, that Pairin was out of touch with reality, lacked the BN spirit since he pulled out from the coalition two decades ago, and had a poor record of public service revolving around, in the past when he was chief minister (1985-1994), making the kayu balak (timber) disappear as fast as possible. Kurup himself was with the PBS government during the Pairin Administration.
Not the third victim
Radin’s remarks “that Kurup has failed the people” have been echoed by former Pensiangan MP Bernard S Maraat, who recently quit PBRS to join PBS and has been appointed chairperson of the Sandakan Sawit Palm Oil Industrial Cluster. Maraat was denied the chance to stand in Pensiangan last March 8 when Kurup decided that he wanted the seat for himself.
“We don’t want Pensiangan to become the third opposition victim after the BN lost two parliamentary by-elections ie in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu,” said Maraat in a frank assessment of the odds in Pensiangan. “The people no longer just want a chainsaw, parang, cangkul, rice mill and grass cutter in order to vote for BN. We did all this previously.”
He forsees trouble brewing in Pensiangan since projects promised under the Sabah Development Corridor for the parliamentary seat are yet to be implemented. “All projects promised should be implemented,” added Maraat. “Any late implementation of the projects under the SDC for the interior region could cause the people to lose confidence in the BN government and its leadership.”
“It is important for the federal government to start the projects without further delay. We don’t want delay to be politicized by the opposition during the Pensiangan by-election. All elected representatives and government departments should sit down together and settle the matter as quickly as possible. If not, the people will not only reject the BN in the Pensiangan by-election but also in the next general election.”
Maraat has been touted as a possible BN candidate for Pensiangan “on loan to PBRS”. He has reportedly been lobbying to be the candidate on the grounds that he has always delivered the seat to the coalition.
Kurup had the seat taken away from him last Sept 8 by an Election Court after it ruled that his unopposed victory there was null and void following a petition brought against him by PKR candidate Danny Anthony Andipai who is being touted in the area as a hero.
Andipai is said to have the support of Pakatan Rakyat leaders to contest in the seat as the opposition candidate.
“Sabah PKR deputy chief Ansari Abdullah is not the only one to favour Andipai as the candidate,” reiterated PKR Tuaran Division Secretary, Jumin Jeffrey Masuling.
“Other Pakatan components like DAP and PAS would not deny Andipai the chance to contest should he be selected as the candidate for the seat. It is obviously due to him that the seat fell vacant,” Jumin added.
PBS secretary-general Radin Malleh has a blunt message for PBRS president Joseph Kurup: “What makes you think that you can win Pensiangan, if and when a by-election is called?”
“It seems that Kurup has forgotten the constituency was never won by PBRS in the real sense of the word but he was given a free ride in the spirit of the BN,” said Radin who had only harsh words for Kurup following the latter’s personal attack yesterday on PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan for ruling him out as the automatic choice in the impending by-election for Pensiangan.“Kurup himself is the one who doesn’t know how to read the political situation and local sentiment in Pensiangan, Radin said adding that “the voters there want a local and a Murut to be the candidate in Pensiangan because most of them are from this community.”
Kurup, according to Radin, should rule himself out of the running for the by-election since he’s neither a local nor a Murut and besides, he has lost before not only there but in other seats as well. Kurup, a Kadazan, has previously claimed to be a Murut.
Do soul-searching
Taking Kurup to task for questioning Pairin on his record of public service and ridiculing him in the media, Radin pointed out that Kurup has failed the people wherever he represented them and this is evident from the talk on the ground.
“The voters point out that Kurup has been, for example, the state assemblyperson for Sook from 1985 to 1999 and again from 2004 to 2008 but failed to deliver on his promises,” said Radin. “He has also been a state finance minister and deputy chief minister during that period and now deputy federal minister for rural and national development.” “Pensiangan - covering Sook and Nabawan - is lacking even basic amenities and development.”
Radin advised Kurup to think of the people of Pensiangan and not just of himself. “Kurup should do some soul-searching for the sake of the people in Pensiangan as well as the fate of the BN,” added Radin.
Pensiangan has come under greater scrutiny by the State BN following successive defeats in Kuala Terengganu recently and earlier in Permatang Pauh which was won by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. Pairin thinks that the recent history of disastrous defeats will repeat itself if the wrong candidate is chosen and appeared to rule out Kurup as the standard bearer for the BN.
Kurup has taken offence at Pairin’s remarks, which carry the weight of some authority, and retaliated by hitting him below the belt with remarks which have not gone down well with PBS and State BN leaders. “As much as I would not like to say anything, I am compelled to do so in response to Pairin’s interference in this well-prepared machinery by raising the question of the candidate for Pensiangan,” said Kurup in his defence yesterday before going on to make some unsavoury comments. “His (Pairin’s) remarks will undoubtedly weaken, to an extent, our election machinery. His ill-conceived remarks are definitely not in the oft-mentioned slogan about the BN spirit.”
Briefly, he claimed that people know who to vote for, that Pairin was out of touch with reality, lacked the BN spirit since he pulled out from the coalition two decades ago, and had a poor record of public service revolving around, in the past when he was chief minister (1985-1994), making the kayu balak (timber) disappear as fast as possible. Kurup himself was with the PBS government during the Pairin Administration.
Not the third victim
Radin’s remarks “that Kurup has failed the people” have been echoed by former Pensiangan MP Bernard S Maraat, who recently quit PBRS to join PBS and has been appointed chairperson of the Sandakan Sawit Palm Oil Industrial Cluster. Maraat was denied the chance to stand in Pensiangan last March 8 when Kurup decided that he wanted the seat for himself.
“We don’t want Pensiangan to become the third opposition victim after the BN lost two parliamentary by-elections ie in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu,” said Maraat in a frank assessment of the odds in Pensiangan. “The people no longer just want a chainsaw, parang, cangkul, rice mill and grass cutter in order to vote for BN. We did all this previously.”
He forsees trouble brewing in Pensiangan since projects promised under the Sabah Development Corridor for the parliamentary seat are yet to be implemented. “All projects promised should be implemented,” added Maraat. “Any late implementation of the projects under the SDC for the interior region could cause the people to lose confidence in the BN government and its leadership.”
“It is important for the federal government to start the projects without further delay. We don’t want delay to be politicized by the opposition during the Pensiangan by-election. All elected representatives and government departments should sit down together and settle the matter as quickly as possible. If not, the people will not only reject the BN in the Pensiangan by-election but also in the next general election.”
Maraat has been touted as a possible BN candidate for Pensiangan “on loan to PBRS”. He has reportedly been lobbying to be the candidate on the grounds that he has always delivered the seat to the coalition.
Kurup had the seat taken away from him last Sept 8 by an Election Court after it ruled that his unopposed victory there was null and void following a petition brought against him by PKR candidate Danny Anthony Andipai who is being touted in the area as a hero.
Andipai is said to have the support of Pakatan Rakyat leaders to contest in the seat as the opposition candidate.
“Sabah PKR deputy chief Ansari Abdullah is not the only one to favour Andipai as the candidate,” reiterated PKR Tuaran Division Secretary, Jumin Jeffrey Masuling.
“Other Pakatan components like DAP and PAS would not deny Andipai the chance to contest should he be selected as the candidate for the seat. It is obviously due to him that the seat fell vacant,” Jumin added.
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