Upko plans to expand to Pahang, Selangor and Johor
PENAMPANG: United Pasok Momogum Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) is looking at expanding its wings to Pahang, Selangor and Johor, acting president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said.
Speaking at the party’s 18th anniversary dinner here on Tuesday, Tangau said discussions to open up a branch in Pahang had been conducted.
“This is the second discussion as the first one did not follow through,” he said when asked on Upko’s expansion plan in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We do not offer them much... we only offer them a platform to discuss issues affecting them so that they can come together and resolve what they want to do for themselves,” he said.
Upko, he added, is also ready for the 14th general election and will work together with its comrades in Barisan Nasional (BN) to ensure that their candidates are victorious.
“In the past Upko lost a few of its seats because we were not prepared for the cyber attacks from the opposition. This time we are and we have our own cyber troopers to counter all lies, allegations and accusations thrown at us and BN on social media,” he said.
On the issue of candidates, the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said age was not a matter as the candidates would be the best Upko had to offer.
“We do not have many seats, only four parliament and six state seats, so we will field the best candidates. We will also be asking for additional seats from the 13 new seats gazetted but we will only choose from the ones we know where our strength lies.
“What is the point of contesting if you are going to lose,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of Upko fielding a woman candidate, Tangau said the party had done so before.
“We respect the struggles of women in the party and we listen to their requests,” he said.
Tangau also said Upko had from the beginning, struggled for the aspiration of the Orang Asal or momogun and it would continue to do so.
The United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is part of Upko’s struggles, he said adding that Upko had made seven recommendations with regard to the welfare of the indigenous people in Malaysia and would present them to the state and federal governments for consideration.
“There are a few issues which we have mentioned in forums like Dewan Rakyat but it maybe they were overlooked at the time. There are other important issues, one is that we are thankful to the government for rectifying and supporting the United Nations Charter in 2007.
“We also suggest the World Indigenous People’s Day (August 9) be gazetted as a public holiday to respect the rights of the indigenous people so they are also included into the mainstream development of the country,” he said.