PENAMPANG: The co-founder of United Borneo Front (UBF), a newly formed non-governmental organisation, yesterday announced her decision to join United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party in Sabah.
Nilakrisna James submitted her membership application form to Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok at the party’s headquarters in Donggongon, here.
She told reporters that Upko, under BN alliance, was the best platform for her to pursue the Borneo Agenda promoted by UBF.
“It makes perfect sense for me to be with Upko, where the genesis of my political roots began.”
“While we respect that parties in Sabah will belong to separate alliances, we still have a deep sense of brotherhood amongst Sabahan politicians,” she said.
Nilakrisna, a lawyer, belongs to the Gunsanad political dynasty from Keningau, which covers the Bingkor state constituency.
The Gunsanad family has produced statesmen and leaders such as OKK Sedomon bin OKK Gunsanad and Datuk G S Sundang, former Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Koroh and a former state cabinet minister Tan Sri Suffian Koroh.
The Bingkor state constituency is now held by Justin Guka from Upko.
“I will devote my energy and activism to Upko in preparation for the 13th (next) general election and intend to work with the party leadership to put in place the mechanism for the proper implementation of the Borneo Agenda within the established structure of the current BN ruling government.
“I will start this process from the Upko base as they have subscribed to the Borneo Agenda during the time I promoted this concept with my fellow leaders (including Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan) in the UBF,” Nilakrisna said.
In welcoming her decision to join Upko, Dompok said the doors were always open for anyone who subscribed to the party’s struggle.
Dompok, who is Federal Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, said he hoped that Nilakrisna’s entry into Upko would further strengthen the Sabah-based party, particularly its women wing. — Bernama