Kanul ditched Dr Jeffrey

Kanul Gindol, ex-Bernama executive journalist, had ditched Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. He resigned as Dr Jeffrey's political secretary and also as a member of the opposition party.

Kanul said he had lost confident in the PKR's leadership particularly its Sabah's head Haji Ansari Abdullah, national advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Dr Jeffrey.

When I contacted Kanul this morning, he told me that in this election, he will be campaigning for `a mixed of good people.'

Meanwhile, in an immediate respond Dr Jeffrey described his former most trusted aide pulled out from PKR as shameful and an act of betrayal.

Dr Jeffrey was disappointed with Kanul and other friends who left PKR `to sleep with the enemy just because they were not chosen as candidates in the March 8 general elections.'

My Say:

Good luck to both of them.

My little achievement

My Say:

After been reading postings from bloggers, I started my own blog in June 2007. Several months later, I found out that I can actually keep track of the numbers of visitors to my blog so Installed the counter starting with 000000.

Early this morning, when I opened my blog, I saw the counter registering 10,000th visitors. This to me is a little achievement to myself as there are people out there, friends and those who do not know me, actually dropping in to read my humble postings.

To all of your, thank you very much indeed. This will only encourage me to keep going, posting issues that are of interest, not only to the people in Sabah and Sarawak but worldwide.

Once again thank you very much indeed for the supports.

Alive In Memory

Today Feb 26, five years ago my/our loving mother passed away after a very short illness. I was then in Kuching, Sarawak where I was posted three years earlier as the New Straits Times' news editor for Sabah and Sarawak.

I was being informed/up-dated of mother's condition by my brothers and sisters as soon as she was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the evening. I could had flown back home the same night but there was no flight back to Kota Kinabalu.

About midnight, I was informed of mother's passing. The following day, I was on the first plane out of Kuching. Mother was laid to rest two days later.

Though five years had passed, alive are still the memory of mother's caring to me, my two brothers and three sisters and continued on to take care of my three sons and a daughter.

May she rest in peace forever.

YB Bell Bottom Unopposed

Known for his bell bottom trousers, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup won the Pensiangan parliamentary seat without a contest.

Two other two candidates came to the nomination centre in Nabawan (in the interior of Sabah) but their papers were rejected as they arrived after 10am, the closing time for submitting nomination papers.

First time lucky for Kurup as this is his first attempt for an MP seat as all this while he had been contesting State seats and before the election was called, he was the assemblyman for Sook. The Sook seat is now contested by PBRS deputy President Datuk Elliron Angin.

Kurup's victory angered supporters of the disqualified candidates Saineh Usau of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and indedendent Danney Anthony Andipai. They went for Kurup as he emerged from the nomination centre, a man tried to punch him but missed.

Kurup was being led away, escorted by police, to his car.

My Say:

My congratulations to Kurup. Now we will have YB Bell bottom in parliament. Bell Bottom is his trademark.

Oh GDL comes again

Nomination for the general elections was yesterday and I was just making my round to `smell' interesting stories to post here when `GDL comes again' which downed me the whole of yesterday and still is now.

GDL in the common expression by the people here when one is struck by gout. GDL is Gout Datang Lagi which mean gout comes again.

Of course not the first time, this friend of mine (gout) had been visitng me almost once in every two months but this time around is the worst. It settled and attacked by right knee.

I was in hospital all day, blood specimen taken and result in a week time. I was given pills and hopefully will be able to bend my leg during my three days sick leave.

And I am not alone, my brother Albert Bingkasan, also a blogger, is also down with chickenpox and had been `out of action' for the last one week.


My Say:


What a time for GDL to come visiting?

Kitingan vs Kitingan

It had been officially confirmed today that it will be Kitingan vs Kitingan in the Keningau parliamentary constituency in the March 8 general election.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan will be taking on his older brother and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Pairin, who is a Deputy Chief Minister and Keningau incumbent MP will also be defending his Tambunan State seat. Pairin will be challenged by lawyer Mozes Iking.

Jeffrey, who was once Bingkor assemblyman, will also be contesting Bingkor against incumbent Justin Guka from UPKO.


My Say:

Whoever win or lost in the elections,he will still be a Kitingan. Political game of a political dynasty in the making?

Pairin says no to Jornah

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan confirmed today that incumbent assemblywoman for Matunggong Jornah Mozihim had been replaced by M Sarapin to defend the seat in the March 8 polls.

"I am disappointed and so do my supporters," Jornah said at her house in Kota Kinabalu. A big crowd of her supporters had come down all the way from Motunggong, about three hours drive to Kota Kinabalu to give her moral supports.

Jornah, an Assistant Minister in the out-going State Government, said he would asked Pairin for leave not to campaign in the election of which nomination in tomorrow.


My Say:

Its bitter to say the least but this is Sabah's politics.

More surprises

UPKO, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Liberal Democratic Parti (LDP) are the last Barisan Nasional component parties to announce their candidates for the March 8 general elections.

Surprises were aplenty.

UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok decided to contest in Penampang (his hometown) replacing incumbent MP Donald Mojuntin who will be contesting the Moyog state seat replacing incumbent assemblyman Philip Lasimbang. Dompok's MP seat of Ranau will now be contested by ex-assemblyman Datuk Saringan Gubat.

Another of UPKO's surprise is the dropping of Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau in place of ex-assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing to defend the Tuaran MP seat.

Over in PBRS, its president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup dropped incumbent MP Datuk Bernard Maraat from defending the Pensiangan seat which will be contested by Kurup himself. Kurup said that Maraat was not a `team player' hence being dropped. Kurup seat of Sook will be contested by Datuk Alfred Elron Angin.

And in LDP, its president Datuk V K Liew dropped their Vice President and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah from defending Merotai seat. All the LDP candidates are new with VK Liew himself contesting in Sandakan.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman also dropped 13 Umno incumbents from defending their seats. Among them are big names in Sabah politics - ex-Chief Minister Datuk Salleh Tun Said, ex-Minister Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha and ex-Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Pandikar Aman Mulia.

Another surprise is that Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president was not on the list of BN candidates.

My Say:

We just wait for the outcome of the elections to see whether all the changes would be justified.

Pairin change of heart, He drops Jornah

EXCLUSIVE

Just a day after announcing that he decided not to rock the boat, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan did just that - rock the boat. Today he decided to revoke the party's nomination of Assistant Minister Jornah Mozihim to defend her Motunggong seat.

Jornah's candidacy was announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman on Thursday at Sri Gaya, the Chief Minister's official residence in Kota Kinabalu. Pairin, who was also present, said that he did not `rock the boat' by retaining all PBS incumbent elected representatives.

"When you have a good boat do not rock it," Pairin told the Press. But what he did today was just the opposite and it will not be a surprise if there will be more 11th hour changes come nomination day on Sunday.

Jornah's position as candidate was revoked and in her place will be a senior officer attached to the Treasury whom was believed to have tendered resignation today.

Matunggong PBS division secretary Edward Pampangan, when contacted, said supporters were angry and demanding that Jornah be retained to defend the seat. He said after the announcement on Thursday, Jornah had prepared all the necessary to file her nomination papers on Sunday, but this morning being informed of the changes.

Edward believed that someone out there had `poisoned' the thinking for the party's leadership that prompted the change in the candidacy. He said the leadership was told the Jornah will be defeated in the election and that will also result in the downfall of the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili who is defending his Kota Marudu MP seat.


My Say:

I contacted Jornah who confirmed to me that she had been informed of the revocation of her candidacy. "I am appealing and hope Pairin will listen my side of the story," she said.

Well, this is politics in Sabah. More interesting stories are expected.

Counting Days...

Three more days to Nomination Day for the March 8, general elections in Malaysia. Let see what in store for us today. I will be back with more posting tonight after making my routine rounds of Kota Kinabalu.

Inanam seat in danger

Barisan Nasional may lost the Inanam State seat if the words of businessman Johnny Chong can be used as the yardstick to determine which way will the multi-racial voters swing comes March 8 polls.

Inanam seat is won by Johnny Goh for the second term in the March 21, 2004 general elections and it is almost likely that PBS president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had renominated him to defend the seat.

Chong, a son of Inanam Town former Kapitan China, said majority of the voters wanted a new leader to replace Goh contest in the election. He said the people's choice is Kota Kinabalu District Chief William Majimbun.

Chong said should PBS opted to ignore the voice of the people, Pairin should not blame the Inanam voters if Goh lost and the seat goes to the opposition. The voters had also petitioned Pairin to nominate Majimbun as the candidate for Inanam.

He said such a case did happened in Kuala Penyu in the 2004 elections when BN's Datuk Wences Angang of UPKO lost to Independent Datuk John Ghani.

My Say:

I rest my case.

Sindu says count him in

Consumer Affairs Association for Sabah and Labuan (Cash) president Datuk Patrick Sindu will be contesting in the March 8, general elections, likely representing one of the opposition parties.

Sindu, who confirmed this today, said he would be taking on Rosnah Sharlin the incumbent Member of Parliament for Papar. Rosnah won the seat for Barisan Nasional in the March 21, 2004 general elections.

Pressed for details, Sindu, a well respected native leader in the Kadazan district of Papar, might contest on a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ticket or going solo as an Independent candidate.

Sindu is well known for his work for consumers which at times caused him at loggerhead with leaders in the State Government. Last year a Cabinet minister accused him of playing politics in carrying out his consumerism activities. The minister and several other politicians had called on Sindu to quit Cash and contest in the elections.

My Say:

It looks like Sindu is taking up the challenges by contesting in the coming elections. Personally, I had known him for a long time after he came back from his studies in Germany.

Dr Jeffrey Discharged.....

Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was discharged Monday night from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu after being warded since two months ago following a road accident.

He is now resting at his residence, Sokid Villa, in Bukit Padang.

His political secretary Kanul Gindol said his boss, though physically weak but is in high spirit and raring to go for the general elections.

He had recently announced contesting against his elder brother Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in the Keningau parliamentary seat. He is also likely to contest in the Sook State seats presently held by PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kutup.


My Say:

Waiting for Nomination Day - Feb 24.

Ex-PBS Cabinet sued

Front page lead of the Daily Express today reported three land applicants having filed a suit at the High Court in Tawau yesterday against the entire State Cabinet Ministers headed by then Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan during the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) tenure of State Government (1985-1994).

The plaintiffs are Nasir Manaf and Wong Chaw Yen of Lahad Datu and Henry Apok of Menggatal.

Pairin is the first defendant while the second to ninth defendants are Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Datuk Ahmad Bahrum Titingan, Datuk Kadoh Agundong, Datuk Tan Kit Sher, Datuk Nahalan Damsal and datuk Chau Tet On.

The defendants are being sued for allegedly not implementing a New Land Alienation Policy which was formulated by the previous Chief Minister Datuk Harris Salleh of Parti Berjaya (1976-1985).

Harris had on Dec 4, 1979 announced that his government had reserved 906,930 acres of State land to be given to landless Sabahans at 15 acres each of which the plaintiffs were among those who had registered for the promised lands.

The plaintiffs are now claiming that instead of implementing Harris'policy, the PBS Government were said to have alienated 856,484 acres of the land the outsiders.

Nasir, Wong and Apok are now seeking court declaration that the alienation of the land to outsiders were illegal, null and void as well as a breach of contract of the New Land Alienation Policy.

The are claiming now to be given 15 acres each of the promised lands by the defendants in default paid damages of RM75,000 each.

My Say:

Political games?

It is interesting to note that three of the defendants are now presidents of their respective political parties.

Pairin is Deputy Chief Minister and is PBS president, Dompok, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department is president of UPKO while Kurup, the incumbent Assemblyman for Sook is PBRS president.

All three will be contesting in the March 8 general elections.

.

Kiulu oh Kiulu

Although he always denied interest in contesting in elections, still his name is mentioned whenever it come to the possible candidate for Kiulu. He is Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, the New Straits Times executive bureau chief for Sabah, who is also the Sabah Journalist Asssociation's president.

A local from Kiulu, Bangkuai is said to be fielded by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) replacing incumbent Assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas.

Yet another name cropped up as the possible PBS candidate for Kiulu, Sindin Ranggangon, the Kiulu PBS division chief. His interest is more visible, he had recently resigned as a senior officer of the National Unity Department and openly declared that he wanted to `play full time politic'. Yesterday, he announced that he was offering himself to defend the Kiulu seats for Barisan Nasional.

Likely also to offer himself as PBS candidate is Bernama bureau chief for Sabah Newman Tibin. A lawyer, by training, Tibin is also a local from Kiulu.


My Say:

I pray that one of them will be the candidate as there were also talk that an incumbent Assemblyman from a neighbouring constituency could be PBS' leadership choice for Kiulu.