Upko president wants to mend ties with ex-leaders

KOTA KINABALU: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick is extending the “peace pipe” to former stalwarts who have left, calling on them once again to contribute to the party.

Benedick made this overture at a Christmas reunion of the “Upko alumni” yesterday which saw former party strongmen like Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and Datuk James Ligunjang mingling with the party’s current members and leaders.

This included party founder and president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Benedick’s predecessor and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

Benedick, who took over the helm of the natives-based party from Madius last year, said that he was opening the door for former leaders and members to rejoin the party or play a role in its national development agenda.

He said Upko was launched in Ranau in 1999 after it changed its name from Parti Demokratik Sabah and many of these former leaders were present at the launch.

He said over the years, Upko had matured through its various struggles and its past divisions could become its new source of strength.

“I am open to criticism and suggestions from not only party members but also former party members.

“For me, the presence of our founding deputy president Bumburing and other former leaders are no longer an alumni, instead we are back together in the big family of Upko,” Benedick said.

Bumburing, a veteran Sabah politician and state former state Cabinet minister, left Upko in 2011 to align himself with PKR.

The ex-Tuaran MP later formed Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) before quitting and joining Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

Ligunjang, a former Petagas assemblyman, had also quit Upko in the late 2000 to align himself with other parties.

“I will continue to be guided by the previous leaders of Upko to strengthen and empower this party,” said Benedick, who is Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.