I’m not interested in becoming next Huguan Siou, says Jeffrey

 

Jeffrey Kitingan and Maximus Ongkili are allies under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition government but are at odds over seats held by the former.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan has rejected a report by a local daily that suggested he was willing “to go to war” to become the next Huguan Siou, or paramount leader, of the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) community.

Kitingan, who is also Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president regretted the report which seemed to pit him against Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Ongkili, a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah ally, in vying for the position.

He said it was unfortunate for the daily to even consider making such accusations based on recent political statements made by him and Ongkili, referring to their parties’ stand over the Tambunan and Keningau seats.

“It never occurred to me to become the Huguan Siou. I’m not interested in that job,” he said, in a statement here today.

“Nor am I interested in any proxy battle for the Huguan Siou title even if others may seem to suggest so. I am already the Huguan Siou Lundu Mirongod (paramount thinker) and I’m happy with that title.

“It is wrong to think that I am vying for the (paramount leader) position. The report was written in such a way that it appeared that Ongkili and I were greedy and envious of the current Huguan Siou Joseph Pairin Kitingan.”

The Daily Express had earlier reported that the spat between the parties over the state and parliamentary seats both currently held by Kitingan is believed to be part of a proxy war involving Kitingan and Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu MP.

The daily also claimed this also showed a desire by Ongkili and Kitingan to be the next Huguan Siou to replace the latter’s elder brother.

Kitingan said while both STAR and PBS appeared to be at odds over the Tambunan and Keningau seats, in reality, both parties are allies and any disagreement can always be resolved through discussion.

“For me, I just want to be the best version of myself and serve the people, all Sabahans, regardless of race to the best of my ability,” he said.

Ongkili had previously said that PBS was preparing to stake its claim for Keningau, which had traditionally been held by the party.

While he did not make an outright claim on Tambunan, Ongkili said the party was born in Tambunan and it will continue to be the party’s political base, despite having lost it to STAR in the 2018 general election (GE14).

Kitingan subsequently responded that STAR intended to hold on to the seats.

This was followed by counter claims by lower-rung leaders from both parties trying to outdo each other on which party should get the seat in the next general election. - FMT