Dompok to retire soon?

The UPKO president is expected to announce his retirement plans in the next few days, says Bernama.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bernard Dompok, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) president, is expected to announce his retirement from politics in the coming days.

“He is expected to make the announcement in the next few days. Once he steps down, based on our party constitution, the deputy president would take over the leadership,” said a party leader who did not want to be named when contacted from here today.

Talks are rife that the former Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister is about to step down with Dompok already delegating duties to the party’s second-in-command, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

However, Tangau when contacted by Bernama here today neither confirmed nor denied talks that Dompok would be stepping down except asking the media to wait for few days.

“I has nothing to comment at the moment. Just wait,” he said.

The party insider said Dompok has told party members about his retirement plans after failing to retain the Penampang parliamentary seat in the 13th General Election in 2013. The Penampang seat was won by Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Darrel Iking.

The move is to pave way for the younger leaders to take over the party leadership and allow them enough time to prepare for the next general election.

UPKO, formerly known as Parti Demokrat Sabah (PDS) is one of Sabah Barisan Nasional component party. The party was founded by Dompok and other leaders who quit Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) soon after the Sabah state election in 1994.

– Bernama