KOTA KINABALU: Former Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who passed away Tuesday evening of heart complications, has been described as an “ally of Barisan Nasional”.
Tan Sri Musa Aman, the former Sabah chief minister, also added that apart from being a political ally, Kurup was also a loyal friend who was open to discussions and upheld the BN spirit of cooperation and respect.
“As a partner in Barisan, he remained steadfast till the end, not abandoning his friends in their hour of need,” he said in a statement, extending his and wife Puan Sri Faridah Tussin’s condolences to Kurup’s family.
He added that Kurup was also the bedrock of PBRS and a party man who kept the party together against all odds before passing the torch to his son, Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Kurup, upon retiring from politics last year.
“While serving as Sabah Chief Minister, I had the opportunity to work with Tan Sri Kurup, then PBRS president, an unwavering ally of Barisan Nasional. He was a seasoned politician having held several ministerial posts during a career that spanned four decades,” said Musa.
Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili in his Facebook posting also bid goodbye to one of Sabah’s veteran politicians who has seen it all, politically.
“Rest well now, my friend. May your soul rest in peace, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
“He started his political journey with us in Parti Bersatu Sabah before leaving to head his own party - Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah in 1994,” he said, adding that they shared a lot of memories together and will cherish the friendship.
