Datuk Bernard Maraat is still bitter for being dropped by Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) from defending the Pensiangan parliamentary seat for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the March 8, 2008 general election.
Maraat was then PBRS secretary-general was not nominated by the party president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to defend the seat, instead Kurup nominted himself while his Sook state seat was given to Ellron Angin to contest.
Kurup won the seat unopposed while Elron defeated three other candidates to retained the Sook seat for BN.
When Kurup announced that he would be contesting Pensiangan, Maraat protested and that he wanted to contest as an Independent but was talked out of it. In a show of protest to Kurup, Maraat resigned from PBRS and subsequently joined Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and now heads the Liawan Division.
Kurup's win uncontested, however, went to court on an election petition brought by Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Danny Anthony Andipai whose nomination papers was rejected on nomination day Feb 24, 2008.
Andipai's petition was accepted by the election court and that Kurup's victory was declared null and void on Sept 8, 2008. Kurup, who was made Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister after the general election, had filed an appeal on Sept 10 which is yet to be heard.
Now that a by-election might be held in Pensiangan, Maraat had been meeting with constituents to garner supports and had declared that he would be offering himself to contest the seat on a BN ticket.
Kurup had also declared that he would be defending the seat should his appeal is dismissed.
Maraat, apparently still bitter with Kurup for dropping him from contesting in the last general election, now wanted to get even with the PBRS president. He said his wanting to contest had to do with the overwhelming supports from the grassroots in Pensiangan.
"They want me to be their Member of Parliament. It is not important which political party I am respresenting as a candidate as long as it is under BN," Maraat said.
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