BN will retake Bingkor seat in GE14 – Upko

KENINGAU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organization (UPKO) Keningau division believes that the Bingkor state seat would be recaptured in the 14th General Election.

UPKO Divisional Chief, Datuk Justin Guka said this is based on the support of members of the party for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in Bingkor.

He said the UPKO division held that belief because the support of the people in the area through cooperation from other BN components is increasing even though in the last 13th General Election they were sidetracked.

However, he said in the selection of candidates in the upcoming 14th general election, the leadership should listen to the voice and views of the grassroots on who to put forward as a candidate.

This, he said, is because the voice and views of the grassroots, especially in submitting names of candidate was based on research from various angles.

“Although the decision to field a candidate is made by the party leadership, the voice and views of the people at the grassroots level should also be noted,” he told reporters after opening the UPKO branch at Kampung Tuarid Liawan here on Sunday.

Justin, a former Assemblyman for Bingkor said, the defeat of several parliamentary and state seats in GE13 should be a lesson to ensure that the seats which had fallen into the hands of the opposition can be recaptured.

Replying to another question, Justin said it is up to the party leadership to determine the BN candidate for Bingkor in GE14.

“If I am named as a candidate, I will need to reconsider whether the condition of my health would allow it,” he said.

What is important, he said, is that the BN can wrest Bingkor from the hands of the opposition.

“As a party member, we have to put party interests above from personal interests, meaning whether or not selected as candidates, our loyalty to the party remains a cornerstone of our struggle,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Justin welcomed the establishment of the new branch as it is a sign of the Keningau UPKO Division’s continuing struggle.

He said in addition to the village branch, several party branches were also established including one at Kampung Bunga Raya.

Kampung Tuarid Liawan UPKO Branch had 52 members led by the party Protem Chairman, Robert Gajim.

Those who joined UPKO through this branch include former Keningau District Officer, Haji Zulkif li Nasir and several pensioners in the village.