Upko wishes new opposition pact good luck

SANDAKAN: Acting Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has expressed ‘good luck' to the newly formed Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) pact.

PCS and Anak Negeri recently signed an electoral pact for the coming elections with both parties optimistic that they can secure the KadazanDusun Murut (KDM) dominated seats through this pact.

When asked to comment on the matter, Madius said that as a country that practises democracy, every rakyat is free to set up a political party and they are also free to combine their party; that is their right.

“However, as Upko has been established for almost 30 years, imagine that we are only starting up a Libaran branch now? What more for a one-year-old party? It is not easy to set up a branch and division (for a party), so I just have to say that I wish them good luck,” he said when launching the Upko Libaran division at SRK Sung Siew mile 4 here yesterday.

The Upko Libaran division has 1,300 members consisting of the KDM residents in Sandakan district.

Madius said that it was the only Upko division in the district as the previous Upko Sandakan division was permanently suspended due to technical issues in the past.

The new Upko division was set up by Dr Peter Jr Naintin, who had voiced out to UPKO last year to form a Upko Libaran branch to add support to Barisan Nasional in the coming election.

“We want to make sure that the KDM in Sandakan will not be lost in finding a political party for them, hence, we set up a division here. It is also to add support to Barisan Nasional's other component parties, especially those that will be facing election including the three parliamentary constituencies here, namely, Sandakan, Libaran and Batu Sapi,” Madius added.

Also on hand were Upko vice presidents Tan Sri Wences Angang and Datuk Marcus Mojigoh, Gum-Gum assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Edris, Upko secretary general Datuk Donald Mojuntin, supreme council members and component party leaders.