Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

Kota Kinabalu: A senior leader of United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) has called for President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok to continue leading the party."I strongly feel that the post of party president should be uncontested," said its Treasurer General, Datuk Marcus Mojigoh.

In this respect, Mojigoh, who is also Putatan MP, urged Upko divisions to consider the matter seriously so that Dompok would not be challenged in the party election in October.

He also called on divisions to consider the best party leader for the deputy president post that has been left vacant following the departure of Datuk Wilfred Bumburing who decided to form the Sabah Reform Movement aligned to the opposition.

"The post of deputy should be filled by a young experienced leader who is futuristic and with good vision and mission for the party," he said, adding in this respect, the party old guards should give way.

He took note of the call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the need to look for young and energetic leaders to be considered to lead political parties.

"As another Umno leader, Datuk Rais Yatim has said 'saya tak tanding kerana saya sudah siap menyeberang di seberang' (I am not contesting for I am about to cross to the other side).

"To my understanding this mean 'umur sudah mengejar cepat' (age is catching up fast), so Upko too needs to consider young leaders to bring dynamism to the party and act as the next echelon leaders for the party," he said.

"We prefer a leader who has been proven to have worked hard for the party, sincere and generous while not thinking of personal gain, self interest as well as position.

"We want a leader who is friendly, helpful and who members are comfortable with and who can deliver, not only make promises," he said here Tuesday.

Mojigoh said many Upko leaders have these qualities but they normally shy away.

He hoped that this time they would offer themselves to serve the party.

As for the supreme council composition, he said it should preferably have representatives from all over the country.

All Barisan Nasional (BN) components have postponed party elections to this year in preparation for the general election that was finally called last May.