KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to appoint Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan as the first non-Muslim native governor of Sabah has received further support.
The incoming president of the Opposition party United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko), Datuk Ewon Benedick, hailed the move.
“Pairin has the credibility and experience to be appointed as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the former chief minister had formed and led a multiracial Parti Bersatu Sabah in 1984 before his retirement in 2018 and, as such, will be able to reflect Sabah’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious people.
Benedick is set to take over as Upko president during its Oct 15-16 congress after Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau decided not to defend his post.
His support follows that of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) for the state government to consider Pairin as the next governor when the current four-year term of Tun Juhar Mahiruddin ends on Dec 31.
Benedick, who is Kadamaian assemblyman, said there was nothing in the state constitution to stop the 82-year-old Pairin, who is the Kadazandusun Huguan Siou (paramount leader) from being appointed as the governor.
Juhar is on his third term since his appointment in 2011.
The state government under Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has not yet indicated whether it will extend his term or replace him.
Other names speculated for the governor’s post are former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
