Pairin says still needed in Tambunan, as brothers go against brothers

GE14 | Incumbent Tambunan state assemblyperson and caretaker Sabah deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan smiled sheepishly as he admitted that he had, indeed, planned to retire from politics.

But here he is once again contesting for the eleventh time for the seat of Tambunan, a seat he has held since 1976.

This time around, however, Pairin, who is also the huguan siou (paramount leader) of the Kadazandusun Murut community is defending the seat against his own brother, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan, brother-in-law Justin Alip from Parti Warisan Sabah and Parti Cinta Sabah's Nestor Joannes.

"Earlier, of course, I wanted to retire but I had to respond since there was a need," Pairin told Malaysiakini.

"I’m still at the forefront. Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm still the huguan siou, I cannot just shove away my responsibilities. I don’t want to abandon the people just like that."

Given the chance to represent Tambunan again, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) founder and president promised to work as hard as he can for the people and the state.

"I don’t think age is my barrier. The more the people support me, the more I am energised to represent them.

"I know I cannot be there forever but while given the mandate, I will work very hard for the people.

"I hope this time around I’ll be given a bigger mandate so that I can speak with a stronger voice for the benefit of the people," said Pairin.

Pairin finally decided to defend Tambunan following the request by the top BN leadership, despite having expressed his intention to retire on several occasions previously.

While Pairin now believes that he still has what it takes to continue to be a good representative for the people of Tambunan, his brother Jeffrey thinks otherwise.

Citing Pairin's earlier admission that he wanted to retire, the younger Kitingan truly believes that it is time for his brother to take his much deserved rest.

"I know he has done much over the long period (of time as Tambunan representative). I think he deserves rest.

"I don’t think he has the same fire, the same desire as he had in the past because the mindset is to retire."

This was the reason why Jeffrey felt it was necessary for him to go for the seat of Tambunan.

"Because I still have that fire, enthusiasm and the energy to do it," he said.

Relations still cordial

With polling day just days away, Jeffrey believes he stands a better chance this time around.

"I'm very (confident)," he said.

Despite going head to head with his brother again, this time in Tambunan, Jeffrey said they are still able to joke around when they meet each other.

"He elbowed me playfully on nomination day.

"I respect him as my older brother. If he retires and doesn't contest, I respect him and even with his decision to contest again, I respect that also."

Jeffrey stood against Pairin in the Keningau parliamentary seat in the last general election. The latter won by a 3,918 vote majority. This time around, however, Pairin will not be defending the Keningau parliamentary seat.

Despite losing Keningau to his brother in 2013, Jeffrey managed to win the Bingkor state seat by a slim majority.

Apart from going for Tambunan, Jeffrey is once again in the battle for the seat of Keningau, this time facing PBS vice-president and brother-in-law Daniel Kinsik and five others.

Pairin meanwhile admitting he may have felt slighted by Jeffrey's political decisions in the past, the elder Kitingan said he has learned to accommodate so that he "does not feel anything anymore".

"He's a political foe so I treat him as an opposition member.

"As a brother, sometimes when we talk about it, I feel slighted. But if I want to talk about it, I can say I'm angry, but I'm already at this stage where I need to approach things coolly, calmly, sensibly and logically."

Admitting that he had tried, in the past, to get Jeffrey on his side, Pairin had to contend with the fact that his brother has his own ambitions.

"I have already stopped giving him advice; he likes to listen to other people, so there you are."

No betrayal

While relations with Jeffrey are cordial, the same cannot be said for the siblings' brother-in-law Justin.

Pairin said he had felt betrayed by Justin's decision to contest as he did not expect the latter to go against him. Justin had left PBS and joined Warisan in March last year.

"When you go out (of the party) and go against (me), that's betrayal.

"He's my brother-in-law, I helped him a lot and there's no sense of remembering what I have done (for him). He was also my political secretary."

Unlike how things are with Jeffrey, Pairin did not deny that he was still angry at Justin.

"Of course I'm still angry at him because the election is not over.

"At the nomination centre, he came over to try and shake hands. I looked at him and said there is no need to shake hands."

Justin, however, does not think that he had betrayed Pairin when he decided to contest, pointing out how the latter had stated his intention to retire several times in the past.

"My intention to participate in this election is because I believe Warisan will be able to do better for the people, and I have been telling our people that I was going to contest since last year. And Pairin didn't say anything about whether he would recontest until the last few days before nomination day.

"So there was no question of betraying him, it's not me who is going against him. He decided to contest late so to me, he's going against me.

While Pairin is of the opinion that Justin was not being grateful by going against him in the election, Justin in his defence said he had done his best in the past to ensure that Pairin won in every election since he joined the latter in 1984.

Due to Pairin's busy schedule, Justin said the former did not even visit Tambunan much as its representative.

"I think I have fulfilled my responsibilities as best as I could. So being ungrateful to him does not arise."

When asked if apologising to Pairin in the cards, Justin said he does not think that Pairin is capable of accepting a person's apology.

"He said I am no longer his friend, but I have replied that whatever happens he is still my brother-in-law, my friend, the huguan siou.

"I'm not going to take over the huguan siou, so the respect is still there."

Tambunan infrastructures still wanting

Admitting that Pairin had done a lot for the people of Tambunan, Justin said Pairin had done his best right up to before the last five years.

"He didn't do much in the last four to five years because maybe he was thinking he was going to retire already."

Pairin, however, believes he has done all he can as the people's representative of Tambunan.

"But given more time, of course I'm willing to contribute more. It's always a question of time. Some things can be executed quite quickly, and some not so quickly."

Should he be re-elected again, Pairin plans to continue to work on the much-needed infrastructure in Tambunan.

"We also need to activate the economy. That is why we put so much importance in the development of the tourism industry.

"I believe the tourism industry is a very strong catalyst to move the other sectors, whether its agriculture or self-employment, and to get people to come together so that more people will participate in the industry and create their own innovative ideas.

"A lot of information is required for the benefit of visitors so that all this information can be used by visitors to bridge the economic gap and provide the necessary impetus so that the market will open up for the growing production of local products to fit into the growing economy."

Stressing the importance of education and the agriculture sector, Pairin also emphasised the need for more housing for the people.

Pairin may have stated that he has done all he can for the people of Tambunan, but there are critics who point out that despite being under the watch of a deputy chief minister, Tambunan was not as developed as it should be.

Pairin, however, hit back at his critics questioning whether they have done anything on their part.

"When I started, there was hardly any road, we had to walk up and down into the kampung areas. There was no light or piped water.

"When these people say I did not bring any development, then they should ask themselves what they mean by that, when there was nothing before.

"Now you see roads, you see so many cars on the road. There were no cars before. Now you see new houses with lights, water."

Tambunan, he added, had changed dramatically since he became its representative.

"Compared to the other districts, I can say Tambunan has reached a stage where it can really move up.

"If I am given another five years, I will do my best to develop Tambunan further."

Constituents 'appreciative'

Appreciative of the warm response he says he still receives from the people, Pairin believes that he still has a high chance of retaining the seat.

"People have begun to reorientate, refocus, and they are becoming more convinced that we are doing the right thing.

"There is better understanding of what's going on, and the people are beginning to respond and of course they tend to follow the leadership, when they see leaders come together, that will guide them on how important working together is and to continue to support the government that has benefited them all this while, rather than listening to rhetoric or to people who come just because there are elections.

While both Pairin and Jeffrey are confident of their chances, Justin also claimed to have received good response from the constituents.

"Of course everybody thinks that they have a good chance, so do we. We are very confident of winning Tambunan.

If he is given the chance to represent the people of Tambunan, Justin's first priority is to support other opposition leaders to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"I feel only by removing the GST and going back to the normal fuel market price will the people enjoy a better life."

Justin may have ambitions to become the next Tambunan state assemblyperson, but he will have to go up against Pairin's supporters.

John Tadong, 64, is one loyal supporter who is hoping that Pairin would emerge as the victor.

"We don't want others to replace him. We love him.

"We will ensure that he wins again," said the farmer.

However, despite holding the Tambunan and Keningau seats since 1976 and 1986 respectively, support for Pairin has been declining.

Although many, especially the older generation, still regard him as their leader, some say Pairin particularly lacked support from youths.

Come polling day, the huguan siou will see whether he is still needed by the people of Tambunan or otherwise. -Mkini