PBS stakes claim over ‘heritage’ Keningau seat held by Jeffrey

 

PBS president Maximus Ongkili (left) said Tambunan, the party’s birthplace, was of sentimental value.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah has expressed its intention to reclaim the Keningau parliamentary seat from fellow Gabungan Rakyat Sabah partner Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) in the next general election.

The party also hinted it could reclaim the Tambunan state seat, which lies within Keningau. Both these seats are held by STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan.

PBS president Maximus Ongkili told party members at the Tambunan division’s annual meeting today that the party is preparing the ground to stake its claim for Keningau, which was traditionally held by the party.

While Ongkili did not make an outright claim over Tambunan, the Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister, however, spoke at length about the state seat.

“PBS was born in Tambunan and it will continue to be the party’s political base,” he said in a statement here.

He added that Tambunan had always been the party’s stronghold despite losing the seat to STAR in the 2018 general election.

“Although we lost the Tambunan state and Keningau parliamentary seats to our partner in GRS, we must not be disheartened and instead continue to recognise the district as our political base.

“This is a wake-up call for PBS and a signal that there is a dire need to reorganise both Tambunan and Keningau.”

PBS president Maximus Ongkili (in light blue uniform) receiving a souvenir from Tambunan division chief Daniel Kinsik today.

PBS founder and former president Joseph Pairin Kitingan held the Tambunan seat from 1976 before losing it to his brother, Jeffrey, in 2018.

Pairin held Keningau from 1985 but stepped down to allow then PBS vice-president Daniel Kinsik to contest the federal seat but he also lost to Jeffrey in a six-way battle.

Ongkili said that reorganisation of the party is already under way in its three divisions in Keningau, namely Tambunan, Liawan and Bingkor, to make the party more appealing to the younger generation.

“The sentimental feeling towards PBS is still strong, especially among the middle-aged and elderly folks, and we would like to welcome a new breed of leaders into the party.

“Our desire now is to convince the younger generation to realise PBS’ struggles and observe the party’s successes and experiences.” - FMT