Indications within Parti Bersatu Sabah are that its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan is ready to retire but is being held back by worried party leaders.
TAMBUNAN : It is almost certain now that Sabah’s longest serving assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, will not be defending his parliamentary and state seats in the coming 13th general election.
Although Pairin, who president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has in the past said that he was prepared to defend both his Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats, signals from within his PBS however indicate otherwise.
Pairin, 72, has been the Tambunan state assemblyman since 1976 when he first won the seat for Berjaya at the age 36. Ten years later in 1986, he started winning the Keningau parliamentary seat.
Party insiders note that the old-man of PBS is said to be slowing down and had in fact given signals to his close family members and inner circle that he might forego the larger Keningau seat which covers Tambunan, Liawan and Bingkor state constituencies.
The Keningau parliamentary constituency covers a huge area of 3,533 sq km, equivalent to the combined size of Penang, Malacca and Perlis.
PBS insiders however said the ageing Sabah deputy chief minister is still keen to be renominated as Tambunan assemblyman, the place that holds many sentimental values to him personally and politically.
In 1984, in defiance of then ruling Berjaya, Tambunanites, in a by-election forced against Pairin, voted him again as an Independent candidate against Berjaya’s candidate.
Autocratic chief minister Harris Salleh punished them by abrogating the district status of Tambunan and withdrew funds from it.
A PBS leader met after attending a meeting at PBS headquarters in Donggongon recently told FMT that while many, including in state Barisan Nasional circle, still wished Pairin to stand in both seats, the man himself thinks its unwise to do so.
Pairin, who is also the “Huguan Siou” or paramount chief of all the Kadazandusuns, is also said to be concerned about a possible negative impact on the morale within PBS if he completely withdraws from the state political scene.
“The mere mention by Pairin of that possibility to retire in PBS meetings is enough for the whole PBS supreme council leaders to come on their feet to advise him not to pursue the matter.
“PBS leaders like Herbert Timbun Lagadan and Johnny Mositun and even Radin Malleh, Jahid Jahim and others would not allow that to happen.
“That is how they hold Pairin in high esteem,” said the leader who requested anonymity.
Family members eyeing Keningau
Lagadan, a PBS vice president and Kadamaian assemblyman, like others in PBS, is one who openly believes Pairin holds the total unity within multi-racial PBS, but which had seen a decrease in popularity among the Kadazandusuns.
In fact almost all PBS leaders believe so and said this in their speeches at the party’s recently-concluded annual general meetings at divisional level.
Pairin’s staying power is expected to be once again highlighted and appreciated at PBS coming annual congress which has been scheduled either end of next month or in November at the famous Hongkod Koisaan complex.
PBS supreme council is meeting later today, among others to discuss the party’s upcoming congress and also preparations for a general election.
Meanwhile a PBS youth leader, also met recently, confided that Pairin was very likely not going for both Keningau and Tambunan seats at the coming general election.
“No, no, I don’t think he (Pairin) will go for both. Only one this time…” said the youth leader.
The issue of Pairin foregoing the Keningau MP seat is expected to heat up with many names already propping up to take his place as PBS-BN candidate for Keningau.
Among the names are Dr Maximus Ongkili (currently MP for Kota Marudu), Daniel Kinsik, Peter Jino Aliun and Alexander, Pairin’s eldest son. Interestingly, all the names proposed are close family members of Pairin.
Pairin formed PBS in March 1985 and has led the party to victories in four successive state elections in 1985, 1986, 1990 and 1994.
He was Sabah chief minister from April 1985 to March 1994, when his nine-year term ended abruptly on March 17, 1994 when PBS, then outside of BN, lost its majority in the legislative assembly to Umno-led BN after 26 or almost all of its own assemblymen defected.
But this is not mean he will give a way to his brother, Jeffrey Kitingan.
ReplyDeletehahahhahaa, ya betul:P Kalau betul pun Pairin tak defend kerusi keningau pasti ada calon yang layak ganti tempatnya tu.
DeleteJeffrey selama dia bersaing dgn Pairin, jeffrey tak pernah menang.
DeleteIf Pairin is ready to retire, who will ready/qualified to take over his seat and position?
ReplyDeletelet Pairin rest, if he must... on who will ready or qualify to take over his seat is an uncertainty, but certainly will not yet qualify to be bestowed the huguan siou title...its something to be earned...
Deletejika itu keputusan dia. biarlah dia dgn keputusannya.
Deletenope...i dont think the huguan siou would give way to jeffrey...
ReplyDeletethe burden pairin carries is a heavy one and jeffrey boy player bananas cannot handle it... he loves women too much more than tambunan and the state...LOL
ReplyDeleteeither its keningau or keningau's beautiful ladies for jeffrey, not both...
ReplyDelete"Pairin, who is also the “Huguan Siou” or paramount chief of all the Kadazandusuns, is also said to be concerned about a possible negative impact on the morale within PBS if he completely withdraws from the state political scene..."
ReplyDeletePairin could always remain in PBS as advisor...
Kita lihat sajalah nanti. Susah juga mahu ramal situasi ni.
ReplyDeleteBetter Pairin try to defend his seat in Keningau for last time..hehe
ReplyDeleteThe future of Keningau is in your hand Datuk Pairin Kitingan. Kenigauan will support you be Parliament reps..
ReplyDeleteKalau kita lihat sendiri pun apa yang terdapat di Sabah sekarang ini adalah hasil usaha yang telah dibuat oleh Kerajaan Bn kepada Sabah. Begitu juga dengan daerah kecil Keningau ini.
ReplyDeletekenigau kini dah makin membangun.
DeleteTeruskan usaha yang terbaik untuk penduduk Keningau. Selesaikan semua masalah yang dihadapi dikawasna tersebut.
ReplyDeletemoga lebih byk pembangunan akan diberikan kepada Keningau.
DeleteWe see and with for General Election 13 soon. We believe that BN will do the best to make sure Govt still under Barisan Nasional and not let PR take over govt.
ReplyDeletePBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said Sabah’s interior had evolved and experienced development since achieving independence, particularly in basic infrastructure and the people’s livelihood.
ReplyDeletePBS remains relevant to the Chinese community as proven by the increase in new membership received from them.
ReplyDeleteBandar Keningau PBS branch chairman Johny Anthony Kadau said the increase in Chinese support for the party is mainly attributed to its multi racialism concept, its genuiness and consistency in its causes.
DeleteKeningau PBS branch chairman Johny Anthony Kadau also called for a relentless effort to disseminate the party’s struggle to the people to encourage them to join in the cause.
DeleteBingkor PBS divisional head Peter Jino Allion urged all members of the party to cooperate to assure that the party would remain a force to be reckoned with, especially in view of the imminent general elections.
ReplyDeleteMelalap Assemblyman Datuk Radin Malleh raising the possibility of PBS getting back the Tenom parliamentary seat for the next general elections.
ReplyDeletePairin said he is ready to contest when referring to the various online news reports quoting party insiders as saying that he would step aside in the larger Keningau seat, which covers three state constituencies, and only contest the Tambunan state assembly seat in the coming election.
ReplyDeleteHe only want to retire in the 14th general election.
DeleteParti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has confirmed his intention to run in the 13th general election, quashing rumours of his early retirement.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking to reporters after attending the Shell Traffic Educational programme here yesterday, the state's long-serving assemblyman said the plan was to defend both his Keningau parliamentary seat and Tambunan state seat.
ReplyDeletePairin, 72, who is also Sabah's deputy chief minister, said he planned to retire by the 14th general election.
ReplyDelete"How do they know? You should quote what I said also -- that I am ready to contest," Pairin said of various online news quoting party insiders who claimed that he would be slowing down in the coming election.
ReplyDeleteA Free Malaysia Today article claimed that Pairin would not contest the larger Keningau seat, which covers three state constituencies, but that he was still keen to be renominated as Tambunan assemblyman.
ReplyDeleteThe Huguan Siou, or paramount leader of the Kadazandusun community, was also said to be concerned about a possible negative impact on morale within PBS if he withdrew from the state political scene. "I will retire, but not for this election.
ReplyDeleteParti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has confirmed his intention to run in the 13th general election, quashing rumours of his early retirement.
ReplyDeleteSabah World Heritage
Borneo Bullet
the state's long-serving assemblyman Pairin Kitingan said the plan was to defend both his Keningau parliamentary seat and Tambunan state seat.
ReplyDeletePairin said; "How do they know? You should quote what I said also -- that I am ready to contest," Pairin said of various online news quoting party insiders who claimed that he would be slowing down in the coming election.
ReplyDeleteA Free Malaysia Today article claimed that Pairin would not contest the larger Keningau seat, which covers three state constituencies, but that he was still keen to be renominated as Tambunan assemblyman.
ReplyDeletePairin said; "What I have planned and what I've discussed with my colleagues, is to contest this coming general election but not in the elections after that. I want to retire in the 14th general election. I hope those people concerned will be happy."
ReplyDelete