Pairin confirms not contesting
TAMBUNAN: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has confirmed he will not be contesting in upcoming 14th General Election.
"It (retirement) has come to me and I will not participate in the GE14, he said.
"This is a decision I am taking so as to give potential leaders a chance to become a candidate in the GE14," he said in his speech when declaring open a balairaya at Kampung Timbou here.
Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, said potential candidates would replace him as a candidate to contest in this constituency (Tambunan) and it is up to the people to support any Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to contest.
He said what was important was unity. "Do not split votes but support the BN candidate picked to contest," he said.
"Do not be sad and do not vote for me anymore because I will not take part in the coming election.
"It is up to the people to improve the situation by supporting any BN candidate in the coming GE14," he said.
Pairin, who is also Keningau MP, urged the people to vote for BN candidates who would replace him in his constituencies (Keningau and Tambunan).
"Do not be easily affected by other parties who want to contest in this area because when we are divided, it will not bring the best results (for BN)."
He said the best, from his experience as a leader, who had been through many challenges throughout his career as a politician, were those who had helped the people in a lot of things, emphasized on national security and defended the people against the presence of illegal immigrants, and they need to be supported.
"The government which is sincere in looking after the rakyat and defending them is the BN government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.
"He (Najib) alone is helping and defending us, and all this we need to take seriously the BN's services and sacrifices.
"There are people who are just talking and reprimanding us but what contributions have they given to the community? They are good at talking but there is no contribution to show that they are really serious in helping the people. This group of people is just in politics for nothing and they are not defending the welfare and future of the rakyat.
"I am a leader who has gone through many challenges and I would like to advise the people not to think twice and do not repeat the mistakes being made during the GE13," he said.
For the GE14, he asked the people to support the BN candidates because they represent the government that would help the people in bringing developments.
"I believe that the best for the people so continue to support the BN government which has proven its ability to help and defend the fate and future of the people," he said.
Pairin is the Keningau MP since he was first elected in the 7th general election and the Tambunan assemblyman since 1976.
In the 13th general election, Pairin won the Keningau seat, garnering 15,818 votes in a three corned contest with 3,918 majority. For the Tambunan seat, he polled 5,586 votes with a majority of 2,079 votes in a five-cornered fight in GE13.