‘Tug-of-war’ over Bumburing
Joseph Bingkasan (Free Malaysia Today)
| July 3, 2012
It's payback time, and current Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing must
face up to Upko secretary-general Wilfred Madius Tangau's desire to contest his
old seat.
KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran MP Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing, the man at
the centre of a tug-of-war between the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and
the opposition, has again denied he plans to leave his party ahead of the 13th
general election.
But he did hint that that several others will “jump ship” when
the election is called.
Bumburing, who is United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut
Organisation (Upko) deputy president, said for now, speculation that nine MPs
and assemblymen are ditching the ruling coalition was baseless.
The former Sabah deputy chief minister also said it was not true
that he was on his way out because it was unlikely he would be given a chance
to defend his seat.
“Many people think I am leaving BN but this is not true. I will
make a formal announcement should I finally decide to say good-bye to BN,” he
said.
Bumburing said this political speculation could had been the
result of him having joined the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-led NGO Angkatan Amanah
Merdeka (Amanah).
He had also been seen with opposition leaders during the many
Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) celebrations organised and hosted by
opposition parties in May.
Bumburing, a former assemblyman for Tamparuli, has also been
vocal in calling on the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) on the massive number of illegal immigrants in Sabah being issued with
MyKads.
In the 2008 election, Bumburing was fielded instead of then
incumbent Wilfred Madius Tangau, the Upko secretary-general.
Tangau was miffed that he had been overlooked in the
distribution of seats to BN component party candidates.
Tangau, a ‘hurt’ man
Bumburing polled 17,645 votes to retain the seat for BN with a
6,622 majority against his nearest rival Ansari Abdullah of PKR, who garnered
11,023 votes. Independent candidate, Ajin Hazin Gagah, lost his deposit when he
only managed 879 votes.
Upko president Bernard Dompok, when asked recently of his
deputy’s imminent departure from the party, said that the question should be
directed to Bumburing.
“Those questioning Bumburing’s position in the party should get
the answer from him. You should ask him personally because you would not
believe what I say,” Dompok said.
Meanwhile, although Tangau has not been openly lobbying to be
fielded in Tuaran, he has been on a tour of his former parliamentary
constituency over the last few months.
When he was sidelined and not fielded to defend Tuaran in the
last election, he told FMT that it hurt “just like one’s fiancée being taken or
eventually wedded by the best man”.
Tangau, it is learnt, wants to contest the seat this time around
to honour a pact he made with Bumburing in the 2008 election.
The deal was that Bumburing would stand for one term as MP and
Tangau would be given the seat in the 13th general election.
Whether
Bumburing or Tangau is fielded by BN, the opposition PKR will likely be
fielding Ansari again or another former Tuaran MP Kalakau Unto
‘Tug-of-war’ over Bumburing
Joseph Bingkasan (Free Malaysia Today)
| July 3, 2012
It's payback time, and current Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing must
face up to Upko secretary-general Wilfred Madius Tangau's desire to contest his
old seat.
KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran MP Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing, the man at
the centre of a tug-of-war between the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and
the opposition, has again denied he plans to leave his party ahead of the 13th
general election.
But he did hint that that several others will “jump ship” when
the election is called.
Bumburing, who is United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut
Organisation (Upko) deputy president, said for now, speculation that nine MPs
and assemblymen are ditching the ruling coalition was baseless.
The former Sabah deputy chief minister also said it was not true
that he was on his way out because it was unlikely he would be given a chance
to defend his seat.
“Many people think I am leaving BN but this is not true. I will
make a formal announcement should I finally decide to say good-bye to BN,” he
said.
Bumburing said this political speculation could had been the
result of him having joined the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-led NGO Angkatan Amanah
Merdeka (Amanah).
He had also been seen with opposition leaders during the many
Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) celebrations organised and hosted by
opposition parties in May.
Bumburing, a former assemblyman for Tamparuli, has also been
vocal in calling on the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry
(RCI) on the massive number of illegal immigrants in Sabah being issued with
MyKads.
In the 2008 election, Bumburing was fielded instead of then
incumbent Wilfred Madius Tangau, the Upko secretary-general.
Tangau was miffed that he had been overlooked in the
distribution of seats to BN component party candidates.
Tangau, a ‘hurt’ man
Bumburing polled 17,645 votes to retain the seat for BN with a
6,622 majority against his nearest rival Ansari Abdullah of PKR, who garnered
11,023 votes. Independent candidate, Ajin Hazin Gagah, lost his deposit when he
only managed 879 votes.
Upko president Bernard Dompok, when asked recently of his
deputy’s imminent departure from the party, said that the question should be
directed to Bumburing.
“Those questioning Bumburing’s position in the party should get
the answer from him. You should ask him personally because you would not
believe what I say,” Dompok said.
Meanwhile, although Tangau has not been openly lobbying to be
fielded in Tuaran, he has been on a tour of his former parliamentary
constituency over the last few months.
When he was sidelined and not fielded to defend Tuaran in the
last election, he told FMT that it hurt “just like one’s fiancée being taken or
eventually wedded by the best man”.
Tangau, it is learnt, wants to contest the seat this time around
to honour a pact he made with Bumburing in the 2008 election.
The deal was that Bumburing would stand for one term as MP and
Tangau would be given the seat in the 13th general election.
Whether
Bumburing or Tangau is fielded by BN, the opposition PKR will likely be
fielding Ansari again or another former Tuaran MP Kalakau Unto
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