Puncak Borneo incumbent may reconsider earlier intention to step down come GE14

Yes, I have expressed my intention not to seek re-election in the (next) general election due to health reason, but the Prime Minister is the one who makes the final decision. Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos, Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water

Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos may reconsider his decision of not opting for re- election in Puncak Borneo in the 14th general election (GE14), should the top Barisan Nasional ( BN) leadership still choose to field him.

He said despite his desire to step down, he realised that the final decision would be in the hands of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is the national BN chairman.

“Yes, I have expressed my intention not to seek re-election in the (next) general election due to health reason, but the Prime Minister is the one who makes the final decision.

“If he still wants me, I may reconsider my earlier decision to step down. The Prime Minister has told others (unofficially) not to ‘ touch’ me, although I am ‘ blind’,” he spoke at a luncheon in Kampung Semadang here on Sunday.

Dawos said Najib had transferred him to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water because the premier needed an expert there.

Adding on, Dawos said he might not be able to see, but whenever he went to any site in Peninsular Malaysia, he would bring officers from the ministry along.

“The officers, who can see things, will brief me on the situation. When I come back to the office, I would do the analysis and prepare a report in my mind.

“Of course I don’t write — my officers do. I dictate and the officers write the report according to my recommendations,” he said.

According to Dawos, who is an environmental scientist, there is a possibility that he might be asked to defend Puncak Borneo because in the mind of the Prime Minister, there are also other countries that have blind individuals sitting in their respective cabinet.

He said there are countries that have disabled leaders and politicians, including those who are blind since young, holding key government portfolios.

“There are several blind ministers in the world now — there’s one in Canada.

“I’m may be blind, but I can still do my job, and meet with my constituents upon their requests, where I can listen to their problems and deliver the government aid in the form of MRP ( Minor Rural Project) and ministerial grants to them,” he said.

Dawos began his political career as a parliamentarian in the 1999 GE when he contested under BN in Puncak Borneo – known as Mambong back then.