Kennedy (seated third left) addressing the media together with the UPKO Youth Exco members.
PENAMPANG: Although shocked and saddened by the sudden resignation of its chief, Pasokmomogum Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) Youth will remain determined in fighting for the party’s struggle.
Deputy Youth chief Kennedy Jie John said this yesterday following the sudden resignation of former chief Arthur Sen on Monday.
“This (Arthur’s resignation) was certainly a big loss. However, we as the UPKO Youth Exco members are ever ready.
“…We are ready. We have a strong team and we are ready to continue the struggle within the UPKO Youth Exco,” Kennedy told reporters when met after a meeting held at THE UPKO headquarters in Penampang yesterday.
Kennedy, as the the deputy Youth chief, will now be the acting chief of UPKO Youth.
Although UPKO Youth was shocked by Arthur’s departure, the exco members have decided to accept and endorse his decision.
“As you can see, more than half of our Exco members managed to attend this (last minute) meeting despite the fact that some of them had to travel from afar.
“This shows that we, in the UPKO Youth Exco, are still intact, we are still united and we pledge our full support to the party’s leadership under the acting president, Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau,” Kennedy said.
Out of the 30 Youth Exco members, 22 of them were present at the meeting.
Although Arthur’s decision was completely unexpected, his former comrades have nonetheless expressed their well wishes to Arthur.
When UPKO Youth had attempted to contact Arthur to obtain the reason for his resignation, the latter had reportedly declined to state his reason. Kennedy said that he was unsure of what his next move would be.
Kennedy further opined that Arthur’s decision was made individually as no other members had left the party to join him.
Kennedy disclosed that UPKO is currently in the process of carrying out its party elections, both for the branch and central level.
The fact that more and more young people are interested in contesting in the party elections has proven the dynamic and strength of the party.
Arthur has been with UPKO since 2001. He had also relinquished his position as relinquishing his posts as the
UPKO Public Complaint Bureau chairman, UPKO Ranau division vice chief and head of UPKO Kampung Rapak division.