Dompok says his days as politician over
KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok yesterday asserted that his days as a politician was over.
Dompok, who held various key positions in both the state and federal governments prior to losing the election in 2013 to a then-newbie in the field of politics, Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate Darell Leiking, said he had no intention to get back into politics and that he had already moved on from that chapter in his life.
Speaking to reporters after speaking at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recital hall on the topic of “The Kadazandusun in the New Malaysia”, Dompok also said now he only worked in fields that interested him.
“I have already retired. I thought you knew about this,” he told reporters when he was asked whether he would return to politics.
When told that Tun Mahathir Mohamed also resumed his political career recently, Dompok joked that he would then have to wait another 20 years (to embark into politics).
He added that he planned to continue working for a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and that he was presently the board chairman for Montfort Youth Centre.
On the centre, he said it was doing well and that they were now expanding into providing plantation courses.
During the interview he was also asked what he expected from the new government.
To this, Dompok replied that he just wanted it to implement what had been promised.
“I think you have to implement what you have promised in the manifesto. If you do that, everyone is happy. I will be happy. (It does not matter) if it is in the Bible or not, but it is in the hearts of the people,” he said.
And with regard to Malaysia Agreement 1963 steering committee at the federal level, Dompok opined that it should be expanded and that all heads of all political parties should be part of it.
“Remember that MA63 was signed by Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya at the time,” he said.