Upko elected members cry foul over reappointment of 18 supreme council members

KOTA KINABALU: A group of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) supreme council members have cry foul over the reappointment of 18 supreme council members by acting party president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

The group's spokesperson Arthur Sen, who is also Upko Youth Movement chief, claimed that it was not in accordance with Article 21 (iii) of the party's constitution, which states the reappointment of the council members could only be done by the party president after consulting with the elected supreme council members.

However, in this case, he said, Tangau, when chairing the council meeting on March 31, had ignored the request of the majority of 21 supreme council members who were in attendance.

"That is why we were shocked when newspapers reported Tangau saying that he has reappointed the 18 supreme council members when chairing his first meeting as acting president (on March 31)," he said in a statement on Monday

The dissatisfied group also comprised Jair Munty, Akuang Suan, Basari Sarkun, Sylvester Taing, Johnny Intang, Tailin Mainan (repeat: Mainan), Alex Among, Dennison Indang and Walter Galis.

Arthur said during the March 31 meeting, Tangau had raised a motion of reappointing the council members, who had been appointed by former president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, but was met with protest.

He said 14 of the council members shared the same opinion that the appointments must be done with the objective to further improve the party and urged the party leadership to consider appointing divisional leaders, who have yet to be supreme council members besides ensuring fair representation of all Upko divisions.

"Many were also of the opinion that as founding members of Upko, Datuk Wences Anggang and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin should be appointed vice presidents," he said.

Arthur said that the group he spoke for were not disrespecting the party's leadership or Tangau and the former president but wanted to ensure the integrity of the party's constitution was maintained.

"Our hope is for the party leadership to correct this wrong and comply with the party's constitution for the sake of UPKO's reputation," he said.

On April 2, Tangau issued a press statement announcing the retention of all 18 leaders, who were appointed by the former party president as supreme council members.

They are Datuk Wences Angang (Vice President), Datuk Donald Mojuntin (Secretary-General), Georgina George (Deputy Secretary-General), Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (Treasurer-General), Sualim Gopog (Deputy Treasurer-General), Albert Bingkasan (Information Chief), Lightson Kohiya (Deputy Information Chief) and Datuk Wong Thien Fook (Organising Secretary).

Also appointed were 10 supreme council members - Ewon Benedick, Limus Jury, Datin Juliana Janni, Kennedy John Angian, Eldy Yakin (repeat: Yakin) Sinit, Pangiran Lalung, Jasni Rijan, Joisin Romut, Ronald James and Felix Joseph.

On March 31, Tangau officially took over the party presidency from Dompok, who resigned on March 21. - Bernama