PCS, Anak Negeri mostly self-funded — Bumburing
KOTA KINABALU: Persistent claims that Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) are Umno-funded are absolutely made to discredit both parties, stressed PCS president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing.
“Can I say that continuous accusations that PCS and Anak Negeri candidates are funded by Umno, we categorically reject this accusation. We don’t have the money, but we don’t have to accept it,” said Bumburing, who is a former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister.
“Most of our candidates are self-funding and we reject this accusation. This is only one way to discredit us. There is no way they can discredit us, except this accusation,” explained the Tamparuli incumbent, who will be defending the state seat again in this 14th general election (GE14).
Anak Negeri president Datuk Henrynus Amin echoed Bumburing’s statement, adding that Anak Negeri candidates raised their own nomination deposit and the party would extend some help, in terms of, posters, handbills, and banners.
“If we are being funded, then I ask them, where is our money? Where are our rallies?” he questioned.
“We were not active in the last few months, why? Because there is no money to organize. We cannot fight WARISAN (Parti Warisan Sabah) in the way they are doing things. We have to rely on handbills from house to house, and then we cannot hold roadshows because there is no money but as I have said, we will find our way to the ballot.
“I have to deny categorically and it is a malicious accusation, without proof,” he added at the PCS and Anak Negeri candidate announcement in Inanam here yesterday.
Bumburing told the press that PCS, founded in 2013 and legalized in August 28, 2013, has over 100,000 members, and counting, throughout Sabah.
However, Henrynus was a bit defensive about sharing the total number of Anak Negeri members and emphasized that details does not matter.
“We only got ourselves registered in July 2017. We have thousands of members but I think it is unfair for you to go and ask us a question and compare it with those who have been here for 20 years,” Henrynus responded assumingly to questions from the press.
Henrynus, former Kinabalu MP, resigned as PBS secretary general and took over as Parti Kerjasama Rakyat Sabah (PAKAR) president from incumbent Zainal Nasiruddin who then became deputy president in 2017.
PAKAR, which was established early 2013 but only legalized later in November the same year, was then rebranded as Anak Negeri and received approval from te Registry of Societies (ROS) in July 6, 2017.
Henrynus is vying for the Kundasang state seat in GE14 and will field two of its Anak Negeri members, Tsen Chou Yin @ Thomas Tsen Chau Yin for Tanjong Kapor and Dr Paul Porodong for Kota Marudu.
Without revealing the details, Bumburing said the decision was made by the Anak NegeriCinta Sabah pact for strategical purposes.