Dompok: I agreed with Upko leaders’ move to leave BN

KOTA KINABALU: Former Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (pic) said he gave his blessing when party leaders consulted him about wanting to opt out of Barisan Nas­ional after the 14th General Election.

Dompok, a former Sabah chief minister, said he agreed with the party supreme council’s decision because it reflected the people’s desire for change.

“In reality, Barisan lost in Sabah. The Opposition, which comprised Parti Warisan Sabah, Pakatan Harapan and Sabah STAR, had won.

“I agreed to the move as Upko made a pragmatic decision to respect the will of the electorate,” he said in an interview at his residence in Penam­pang near here yesterday.

Dompok, the first Mal­aysian to be made resident ambassador to the Vatican in 2016, was among six politically appointed envoys recall­ed by the new Pakatan Harapan government.

The former Penampang MP and Cabinet minister said it would be exciting for Upko to be part of the state government, as it would allow it to continue being invol­ved in the implementation of strategies in the new political landscape.

Deputy Chief Minis­ter Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, who is Upko president, had earlier defended what he described as “the difficult yet right decision” to leave Barisan and team up with Warisan and its partners PKR and DAP.

He said that after careful deliberation, the supreme council members reached the consensus that the party must uphold and protect the wishes of Sabahans.

In GE14, Warisan, PKR and DAP won 29 seats, which tied it with Barisan’s 29 seats.

Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, won two seats.

Tan Sri Musa Aman managed to get Sabah STAR’s support to push through his appointment as chief minister for the fourth term.

However, six Upko assemblymen defected almost immediately and Musa lost his majority, triggering a demand for him to step down.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was then sworn in as Sabah’s 14th Chief Minister.