Pairin’s outburst a sign of fear, says Wilfred

APS chief Wilfred Bumburing has also thrown his support behind the contentious appointment of Lajim Ukin as Sabah PKR chief.

KOTA KINABALU: Tamparuli assemblyman Wilfred Bumburing has chided Parti Bersatu Sabah president Joseph Pairin Kitingan for calling on the Registrar of Society (ROS) to reconsider the approval of 20 new political parties in the country.

“This goes to prove that Pairin has reneged on his initial struggle for freedom of association by issuing such statement.

“This also clearly shows that Pairin now is supporting the idea of denying the people their basic right to a free association in a democratic country,” Bumburing said.

Pairin, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, had yesterday said the approval of the new political parties could cause major changes to the political demography, specifically in Sabah.

But Bumburing, who helms Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (APS), countered that the formation of any political organisation “is a democratic right and should not be construed as self-serving” or based on an agenda or motive as suggested by Pairin.

“Let the people decide whether the setting up of a political party is based on the aspiration of the people or otherwise.

“Pairin’s statements also goes to show that he is no longer confident in getting the support of the younger generation.

“We now have a society that is well-informed and mature enough in knowing what is best for them and we must respect the wishes of the people and let them decide which political party they would like to support,” Bumburing added.

Observers here opined that Pairin’s call to bar registration of new political parties could be due to dwindling support both in his Tambunan state and Keningau parliamentary constituency based on the combined votes of the opposition candidates in the last general election.

The May 5 election results destroyed the former Sabah chief minister’s aura of invincibility and many say that he would have fallen if not for the support of Umno.

Pairin’s surprising plea to the ROS appears to reveal this fear.

Bumburing backs Lajim

On another matter, Bumburing made clear his support for the appointment of Lajim Ukin as the new Sabah PKR chief.

He said he is not with the party’s four state representatives who protested against the Klias assemblyman’s appointment.

The four PKR leaders – Jelani Hamdan (Matunggong), Terrence Siambun (Moyog), Jeremy Malajad (Kadamaian) and ChristinaLiew (Api Api) – on Sunday had voiced their disappointment at not being consulted in the appointment of Lajim as the party’s new head for Sabah.

They have reportedly submitted a list of demands to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and warned that their support was conditional to it being accepted.

They have also extended a copy of the proposals to Lajim, who is Sabah opposition leader in the State Legislative Assembly.

In a statement issued here, Bumburing congratulated Lajim on his appointment as the new Sabah PKR chief taking over from Ahmad Tamrin Jaini.

“APS is ready and willing to continue its working relationship with Pakatan Rakyat and PKR and offer our continued support for the struggle of Pakatan Rakyat and PKR both at Sabah state level and at national level,” he said.

The former Tuaran MP disclosed that APS was committed in its struggle for change and to achieve the kind of reformation that is desired by Sabahans.

He said APS believed that such change can only be achieved through close cooperation with Pakatan Rakyat.

He pointed out that there were lessons learned together from the outcome of the general election and those lessons have put them in a better position to achieve their goals in the next general election.

“All APS divisions and branches have been directed to provide close cooperation with the other PR (Pakatan) components parties in order to continue with the agenda of change and transformation in order to be prepared for the next general election,” Bumburing said