Tawau: Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) said he will rely on lessons from past experiences now that he is all set and focused to bring Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to greater heights.The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister attributed it all to his mentor in politics, veteran politician and party President, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.Thanking Pairin and the party's Supreme Council for entrusting him to manage matters related to the party until he (Pairin) officially steps down before the next elections, Ongkili anticipated that the political task ahead would be challenging.
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"He (Pairin) has set a very high standard of leadership, especially in the realm of humility, integrity and resilience."But after 22 years in his 'school' as deputy president, I am confident that we can add value to PBS as we reinvent our machinery and sharpen our focus," he said, when attending a Hari Raya Open House hosted by PBS Vice President and PBS Sebatik Division chief, Mohd Balbir Arjan and his wife, Jonitha Kadir, at their residence, here, Saturday.
The longest serving deputy president noted that he had the unfortunate experience of starting politics in the opposition bench and "spent 59 days under the ISA in 1991 after being implicated in (Sabah Star President) Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan's alleged plan to take Sabah out of Malaysia."Nevertheless, Ongkili noted that the misfortune strengthened his fervour to speak for the truth and renewed faith in God, yielding invaluable lessons for political resilience and management.
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"My first nine years as a Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman were in the opposition. I learnt a lot through the hard way, but the last three terms as a Cabinet Minister exposed me to decision-making in the central government … so we are quite seasoned to face challenges confronting the party," he said.
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PBS Sec-Gen Datuk Johnny Mositun earlier announced the Supreme Council resolved to empower Ongkili to carry out the presidential duties with immediate effect at the request of Pairin.Mositun said it was part of the succession plan, besides allowing Pairin to concentrate with his official ministerial and NGO duties until the end of the current parliamentary and state assembly term."I may assume his duties in the party, but he (Pairin) is still our President. I am just there to direct political strategy, and run the party's office and administration work until the eventual handover. The Huguan Siou will continue to be invaluable, whether politically active or otherwise."We all have pledged to continue fighting the struggle and make sure the basic maxim of PBS shall not only be maintained, but further strengthened," Ongkili said.Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP, noted that PBS, like any other political party must continuously reinvent itself to face the challenges of time."In PBS, the core struggle remains the same – defence and promotion of multiracial politics, protection of State rights and pursuit of State security through resolution of illegal immigrants' problem.
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"We need to be more persistent and bolder in pursuing these goals, although through the Barisan Nasional (BN) we make no apologies in being vocal regarding these issues," he said.In addition, Ongkili said he believes the need to inject "new blood" to maintain multiracial makeup of the party to ensure the long term succession plan is maintained.
