RCI may become a polls issue: Upko
KINARUT July 24, 2011: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) will be at a crossroads come the 13th General Election if the people's demands, particularly the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants, continue to be unheeded by the Government.
Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing said this is among the challenges that Upko is facing in the coming election.
"I have submitted a memorandum on illegal immigrants on behalf of all of us to the Home Ministry but every time a Ministry officer will tell me that my memorandum is so thick that they need more time to study it," he said.
Towards this end, he said he dreaded the outcome if the Government failed to address the issue that is known as the "mother of all problems in Sabah".
"We are coming to a crossroads. Are we relevant to the voters when the 13th General Election comes?" he asked at the closing of Upko Putatan Triennial General Meeting (TGM) in Borneo Paradise Resort, Saturday.
Bumburing who is also Tuaran MP said he was worried that it might be 1985 all over again when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) trounced the Berjaya government.
He said Upko would not relent in voicing out the people's grievances such as the illegal immigrant issue. Referring to the sex tape allegedly implicating opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he questioned the reason for an RCI to be set up "just for a dubious sex tape".
"What is that compared to the problems affecting millions in Sabah?" asked Bumburing.
However, he said that of all the federal ministers from Sabah there has been no one more vocal than Upko President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and as a result had boosted the image of the party as one that struggled for the people.
He said the strength of a political party should not be looked at merely from its membership base but more on its struggle and bravery to voice out the people's problems.
He cited that DAP did not have that many members but there was one time like in 1969 when the number of votes obtained by DAP was 1 member to 100 voters.
In this respect, he said the growth in Upko Putatan had contributed to the party's overall growth. As for the proposal for a loose confederation between Upko, PBS and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) to work towards solving the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah, Bumburing said he welcomed the call by PBS Sec-Gen Datuk Henrynus Amin.
Several years ago, he had initiated a retreat meeting between the leaders of the three parties - Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS), Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PBRS) and Dompok - in Tuaran.
"They spent time together and discussed. Pairin then said Upko should get the ball rolling so that was the breaking of ice and it should be a catalyst for this," he said.
Bumburing also explained that he had agreed to be in the newly launched Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) headed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah because it is an NGO that has noble goals.
"I would like to clarify to Upko members to not confuse my involvement in Amanah.
I would like to state this is an NGO and nothing political," he said.
Amanah, he said would be fighting against corruption, cronyism and imbalances.
Biar rakyat sendiri yang membuat pilihan mereka.
BalasPadamusaha Datuk Wilfred Bumburing dalam memperjuangkan isu mengenai PATI dan penubuhan RCI merupakan satu usaha yang sangat baik dan patut disokong. bagaimana pula dengan pemimpin2 tempatan yang lain?
BalasPadamnampaknya Timbalan Presiden UPKO ini juga melibatkan diri dalam Amanah.
BalasPadamRCI satu usaha untuk selesaikan masalah PATI, kita harus sokong usaha ini.
BalasPadamBagi saya, UPKO masih relevan bagi para pengundi pada PRU-13 nanti.
BalasPadamUpko is facing in the coming election 13th. That this party can do more for Sabah? We hopefully upko still relevant.
BalasPadamUPKO is still relevant but the Federal tends to entertain UMNO more than the other component parties. Bear in mind that without the other parties, UMNO will not be where it is now.
BalasPadamRCI was set up for the sex tape but still no decision to set up for the "mother of all problems in Sabah"?? And the minister said that the memorandum is too thick. How ridiculous is that? Of course it's thick because illegal immigrants are major problems in Sabah.
BalasPadamSelagi pemimpin masih bersuara demi rakyat dan mendapat sokongan rasanya masih relevant lagi untuk diundi.
BalasPadamKenapa pula tidak relevant. Bisa Upko pun boleh tahan juga. Statement2 yang dinyata boleh buat rakyat Sabah berpikir dan membuat penilaian.
BalasPadamRelevant. Of coz. I wish Upko can do better than before.
BalasPadammemorandum tersebut patut disokong.
BalasPadamSemoga UPKO terus memperjuangkan perkara ini dan rakyat harus memberikan sokongan.
BalasPadamUPKO masih relevan dan selagi UPKO tidak berputus asa melindungi hak rakyat Sabah, selagi itulah sokongan terus akan diberi.
BalasPadamKenapa Kementerian bersikap acuh tak acuh dengan memorandum itu? Ini menimbulkan kesangsian sama ada kerajaan persekutuan benar2 serius untuk membantu menangani masalah PATI di Sabah.
BalasPadamusaha untuk menyelesaikan masalah pati ini perlu terus dilakukan.
BalasPadamUPKO sejak kebelakangan ini berusaha mendekati rakyat dengan menganjurkan beberapa program. walaupun sumbangan UPKO kurang didedahkan oleh media, tidak semestinya mereka tidak relevan.. tunggu la masa PRU nanti, waktu itu kita boleh tahu mana parti yang tidak relevan..
BalasPadamI think it is.
BalasPadamUPKO memang selalu ingin menyelesaikan masalah di Sabah ini.
BalasPadamOne of the major setbacks is of course, the lack of cooperation between peoples.
BalasPadamUPKO memang selalu relevan cuma pihak lawan yang asyik membawa masalah.
BalasPadamWhatever it is, I'm supporting those who are supporting Sabah.
BalasPadam