KENINGAU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan sees no need for party members or voters to kick him out of public office.
He likened the party to a plane where the pilot, crew, mechanics and other workers must co-operate with each other to prevent any accidents.
“Even though I have been the pilot (of PBS) for 25 years, there would come a time when I would be replaced,” Pairin said in a pre-Hari Raya Aidilfitri remarks to PBS Sook delegates in Keningau in the west coast interior. “However, I would not use a parachute and suddenly jump from the plane.”
Pairin, also Huguan Siou (paramount chief) of the KadazanDusunMurut, was commenting on a growing unease with his long stay as party president, Keningau MP and state assemblyperson for Tambunan.
In reiterating that he would not quit suddenly, leaving PBS in the lurch, he gave no indication when he would walk into the sunset and not look back. His only promise was that he would “leave gracefully”.
Instead, he urged party members to co-operate with other BN component parties to ensure the ruling coalition won the election “that is expected to be held anytime soon”.
Pairin did not say what he plans on doing after he quits the political scene which he has dominated, along with his younger brother Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan, for the past quarter century.
He indicated, on the sidelines of the meeting, that he may write his autobiography. He has previously expressed the same desire as recently as late last month in Penampang at a book launch.
“Everybody in their heart of hearts would like to write their own book, one way or another, in a big or small way. It’s the same with me,” he said. “I have not worked it out. Some people have said why not but I have not given it serious thought. Other people have been writing about me in little ways.”
Pairin said that “maybe when I get inspired... maybe I will pen something and people can read about me in my own words.”
The criticism among the young in particular, especially the opposition, is that he’s squatting on the community. They want him to withdraw completely from the political scene immediately and focus instead on uniting the community as Huguan Siou.
Keningau parliamentary liaison chief officer Harry Otigil described Pairin as a great leader whose services and leadership are still needed by the people especially in the constituency.
The call for him to step down did not come from the people but the opposition who “resorted to provocative and cheap politics to gain attention”, he added.
“It’s not true that he has never spoken up for the benefit of the people especially those in the rural areas,” said Harry. “Pairin has done his best for the people.”
Undisputed leadership
Liawan PBS information chief James Stephen also said the opposition has no right to ask Pairin to resign as he was duly elected by the people to struggle for and defend their rights.
Pairin’s leadership could not be disputed, he added.
“He has championed the people’s rights in this state since he entered politics,” said Stephen. “The people still want him to be their member of parliament.”
Many PBS Youth leaders, however, feel that Pairin has long outlived his usefulness.
“If Pairin, again, decides to stand in Tambunan and Keningau in the next general election, he will really prove himself to be unreasonable, selfish and really unbecoming of a leader,” said a Youth leader who wished to remain anonymous. “He’s supposed to be old and wise, not old and foolish.”
Pairin has already been returned unopposed late last year for another three years as PBS president. Fifty-five of the party’s 60 divisions, based on the state constituencies, nominated him for the number one post.
Five divisions did not nominate him, according to PBS information chief Johnny Mositun because they could not hold their annual general meetings in time.
PBS deputy president Maximus Jonity Ongkili, meanwhile, has ruled out challenging Pairin, his uncle, for the party leadership. The thought has never crossed his mind, he said. “The party remains stable under the leadership of Pairin.”
Maximus had previously said in public that this would be his last term in the party.
Pairin has since twice invited Jeffrey, in recent months, to return to the party which he helped co-found in 1984 but left after difficulties with Maximus, among others.
The younger Kitingan, it is learnt, is unlikely to return unless he’s assured of the presidency by consensus and Maximus pledges loyalty to him.
PBS vice-president Herbert Timbon Lagadan, a Pairin loyalist, has publicly offered to vacate his party post for Jeffrey. He’s a national vice-president in the PKR, which has consistently tried to marginalise him in Sabah, according to his supporters.
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