DR. LUCAS UMBUL THE NEW SENATOR

CONGRATULATING .....Chief Minister Musa Aman congratulating Dr. Lucas Umbul on being elected by the Sabah Legislative Assembly as a senator recently.

By : FIZAH YUSOF

DR. LUCAS Umbul, 52, will succeed former UPKO Vice-President Datuk Maijol Mahap when the latter's term expires this Dec 9. The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) deputy secretary-general was elected by the Sabah Legislative Assembly recently. The appointment will commence on Dec 10.

A family man with four children Lucas Umbul looks back to a hard childhood beset by poverty. He struggled hard to overcome many obstacles and managed to pursued tertiary education in the United States.

"I come from a poor family living in Kg. Melalap Tenom. My father passed away when I was 2 years old. My mother took care of us and she worked as a rubber tapper," he said.

Previously, he was a lecturer at the Teacher Training Institute in Keningau. He opted for early retirement to go into politics.

Dr. Lucas, who is of Murut decent grew up in Tenom. He said he will use the opportunity as a senator to help the people of Sabah, particularly those in the interior areas.

"I can do a lot for the community. I want to ensure that the people of all ethnic groups especially in rural areas benefit from all government policies," he said to reporters outside the Dewan after the Sstate Aassembly adjourned yesterday. (Insight Sabah)