TAMPARULI: A party must outlive the founding fathers, thus the need to have a second echelon of leaders ready to take over when needed, United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said.
Speaking at the Upko Tuaran division’s triennial general meeting here yesterday, Dompok said that it had crossed his mind that maybe it is time for the party’s leaders to look for new ‘blood’ who can step into their shoes when the time comes.
“Sometimes it has crossed my mind (that) maybe it is time for Upko leaders to look at the new blood. This can be part of the party’s transformation. We do not want when the founding leaders step down, the party is dissolved.
“The party must outlive the founding fathers, this must happen,” he said in response to Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M. Bumburing’s announcement at the meeting yesterday that he had declined to be re-elected as the Upko Tuaran division chief.
Dompok when thanking Bumburing for his contribution to the division, explained to the delegates that the former had, on several occasions, discussed with him, his intention to make way for new blood to lead the division.
This, Dompok said, was a good example of transition of power at the grassroots level and pointed out, “we can only struggle for the party if we have sincerity and idea that is good for the party as a whole.
When met by reporters later and asked to comment on the build-up to Upko’s second echelon of leaders, Dompok replied, “well that is what all of us, all the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, have to do.
“I think there are a lot of people coming up and they must be given the space to show the talents that they have,” he said.
Asked if he has identified Upko’s second line of leaders, Dompok said that the matter was not for him to decide.
“It is for the party members to identify … it is not for me. We can probably give pointers as to which leader has shown a lot of promise and has contributed but beyond that I think it is up to the party members to decide. This is democracy,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) chief information officer Datuk Johnny Mositun’s proposal to increase the number of electoral constituencies in Sabah, the Penampang member of parliament pointed out that of late, there has been too much talk about the seating arrangement.
To a further question if Upko will be putting in its request for additional seats, Dompok replied, “there will be requests, including from us, but I prefer to bring it to the table rather than to tell you first.
“It is better for us to talk about it rather than to tell the newspapers because it has not actually created any increased opportunity for anybody to say this thing all the time to the newspapers. I prefer to bring it up to the table for discussion.
“Upko has studied the matter (so) we know what we want and we are presenting. There is a need to discuss vacancies, possibly what is now called winnable candidates and things like this.
“But I think it is counterproductive to talk about this in the press because the press ask you because they have nothing to write. That is why the newspapers ask this thing. You are only contributing towards more to the type of news that are over discussed,” he said.
On the Wikileaks report about Pakatan Rakyat’s attempt to take over the Federal Government in 2008 which alleged that Upko’s MPs were involved, Dompok said that there was nothing more for him to say on the matter.
“Well from what I can gather the source of the leak themselves have already clarified it so there is nothing for me to say. There is nothing to discuss, many of these leaders who are supposed to be in there have clarified the situation and there is no reason for us to talk about this type of things which have been clarified by other people,” he added.