CM rotation issue just one of many resolutions by Upko divisions – Dompok

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PENAMPANG: United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko) leaders were not shocked when one of the party’s divisions called for the revival of the Chief Minister’s rotation system in Sabah.

“This type of statement has been cropping every now and then in Sabah, and I was not shocked. This is what democracy is all about — the people are free to express themselves,” Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok told reporters when met at the ground-breaking ceremony of Penampang Central, the first signature boutique office and commercial complex here, yesterday.

Of course, this was just one of many resolutions raised by party divisions which they, at the leadership level, had to digest before making a decision, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said.

Dompok, who served as the state’s 11th Chief Minister under the rotation system, however declined comment when asked whether he thought the two-year system worked.

He succeeded Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee on May 28, 1998, but did not complete the two-year tenure, stepping down on Mar 14, 1999.

“I was there when the matter was raised. So, we in the leadership of Upko, would have to digest what have been presented by the divisions.

“The conventions are still ongoing, so there will be a lot of other issues raised. We will later have a national Upko convention where the leadership would respond to each issue,” he said, adding: “For now, we will wait for all resolutions to come up, it is good for us to listen to everybody, there is nothing wrong to listen to suggestions by the people.”

Keningau Upko Division, headed by Datuk Justin Guka, made the proposal on power sharing among Barisan Nasional component parties in Sabah, but with a slight change.

The Bingkor assemblyman said the rotation system should be changed where previously, one was only allowed to hold the top post for two years.

“It should be changed to at least two terms, and after that, the leader would be no longer eligible to hold office,” he said.

Meanwhile, UPKO Komulakan movement expressed support for the resolution made by the Keningau Division to revive the rotation of Sabah’s Chief Minister’s post.

The young generation of UPKO are hoping that Datuk Seri Najib will renew the BN commitment towards a more practical and balanced power sharing by reintroducing CM rotation and for Umno to contest not more than half of the seats in election,” he said.

Ewon said the rakyat of Sabah are now well educated and the level of political awareness has increased tremendously.

“They vote for a candidate or a party not just because of the policy or contribution made by that particular candidate or party, but also the level of integrity in implementing the commitment you made,” he said.

“As BN leaders, we must aware that the rakyat of Sabah have long evaluated whether BN manifestos and commitments were fulfilled, not just since Datuk Seri Najib took over as Prime Minister, but since BN took over Sabah government in 1994,” he said.

“We in UPKO appreciate the ‘advice’ by Datuk Raymond Tan, but as rakyat Sabah, we would like to hear your stand whether you are happy with the present implementation of power sharing, and whether you agree that UMNO should contest more than half of the seats in Sabah,” he said.