Upko Central Komulakan chief also leaves party
Following United Pasokmomogum Kadazandusun Murut Organisa on (Upko) vice president Datuk Masiung Banah’s decision to leave the party on Saturday, Upko central Komulakan chief Willy Frous Darinsok has also decided to follow suit.
SANDAKAN: Following United Pasokmomogum Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) vice president Datuk Masiung Banah's decision to leave from the party on Saturday, Upko central Komulakan chief Willy Frous Darinsok has also decided to follow suit.
Willy said he respected Masiung's decision to leave the party and was confident that he had made the decision after thorough consideration.
Masiung, who is Kuamut assemblyman, had also relinquished his position as Upko Kinabatangan division chief and declared himself ‘a government-friendly independent' assemblyman.
“I have been under the leadership of Datuk Masiung for two terms, which is for over ten years. I know the way he thinks and his decision is for the best of the Upko division (Kinabatangan) and the people of Kuamut.
“As head of Upko Komulakan exco, I would like to extend my apology to all excos and heads of divisional Upko Komulakan for my decision to leave the party. It was not an easy decision. However, I also have my own stand, and I believe that I fight the same fight that Datuk Masiung is fighting. Hence, I have taken the decision to fight with him.
“My fight at Komulakan was sincere and I did it from the bottom of my heart, without anyone forcing me and without any vengeance,” Willy said.
Masiung's decision to leave Upko was also supported and followed by 30 out of the 32 Kinabatangan Upko committee members.
When announcing his decision on Saturday, Masiung said he felt like he was one of the 'Jin-jin yang terkeluar dari botol' (genies that were left out of the bottle).
"I am quite possibly one of the 'genies that were left out of the bottle'. Even though I have tried very hard to get back in that bottle, that bottle had remained closed.
"Now there are new genies that are surrounding that bottle," he said at a press conference on Saturday.
He explained that the analogy was made in reference to a recent speech made by Tangau.
"Taking all this into account, I have made the decision to leave that bottle, with a very saddened heart," he said.
Upko Kinabatangan deputy chief Datuk Jhonny Intang said the division would continue to exist despite the departure of Masiung.