TUARAN: Former Upko deputy president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing said his sole mission now is to help Pakatan Rakyat take over the Federal Government in order to deliver to the desired aspirations that the people of Sabah have been hoping to enjoy.
Bumburing said: “As a free citizen of this country, l will be the happiest man on earth if our nation comes to a new era where it will be ruled by a government that will be truly fair to every citizen of this country regardless of race and religion.
“l am most happy if I can help in my own small way to realize this objective without having to be a candidate, and this is the whole objective of setting up the Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS).
“APS is not about promoting anyone to be a candidate to represent PR in the next general election as has been alleged by certain quarters.
“It is not necessary for me or any of the APS leaders to be a candidate. I am sure the current leaders from among the Pakatan Rakyat coalition are capable and ready to be put up as candidates in the coming election.
“Our primary objective therefore is to unite all those former BN supporters who have left BN long before APS was set up and together with the current component members of Pakatan Rakyat we hope to be able to form a united front to bring an end to BN rule.”
Bumburing further said, “Initially, I and members of the team that left BN with me were offered membership in PKR, but out of respect for the current line-up in the PKR leadership, and in order not to disrupt their organisational structure, we declined the offer first and instead we opted to form a movement where we can function as a group to team up with Pakatan Rakyat in facing the BN in the coming general election.”
He said if the Pakatan Rakyat leadership finds anyone from among the APS leaders at grassroots level and are qualified and winnable, “we are prepared to propose their names to the Central PR leadership to be selected as candidates.”
Meanwhile, Bumburing said part of APS’ current primary focus is to unite the entire supporters from among the opposition at the grassroots level to enable us to put forward a formidable and united front.
He said the BN election machinery would be at its fiercest and strongest in the coming election.
“I know because until recently, I was part of them. But we will make sure the opposition will be ready to face them.
“Regardless of our shortcomings and handicap, the opposition have the advantage because Malaysians at large and especially Sabahans, after going through almost two decades of BN rule, definitely want change in the Federal Government, and this is our window of opportunity to do this,” he said.