KOTA KINABALU: Now that the May 5 general elections is over and the ministerial appointments done, fresh squabbles are shaping up among the lower ranks of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition parties in many constituencies in Sabah.
On the job list are positions such as political secretaries, councillors, village security committee chiefs, district chiefs, native chiefs, village headmen and community development leaders (PKR).
These posts which are yet to be filled however look set to be dominated by Umno with now “minor” BN allies like PBS, UPKO, PBRS and MCA being left with crumbs.
Umno,which retained its all but one state seat in the 13th general election, is said to be asserting itself with their aspiring grassroot “leaders” lobbying Chief Minister Musa Aman, who is Sabah Umno chief.
Short of rubbing their noses to the ground, the four “minor” parties are being forced to deal with the post GE realities that they are no longer in a ‘position’ to make demands.
Their powers and clout have been considerably reduced.
MCA was completely wiped out in Kapayan and Luyang state seats and PBS lost half of the dozen state seats it held before.
PBS, touted as Umno’s strongest ally pre-election, lost in Matunggung, Kadamaian, Tamparuli, Inanam, Api-Api and Sri Tanjung. PBS could have also lost in few other state seats like Tambunan and Kundasang had it not been for the alleged fraudulent acts by the BN.
Upko, whose president Bernard Dompok lost miserably (by more than 10,000 votes) in Penampang, is said to be under pressure to give in to Umno’s demands for “meaningful” roles in Penampang.
Meanwhile “complaints” from the grassroots of the four parties that their big-brother Umno is trying to “invade” their presumed territories are quietly piling up.
Parties must make ‘adjustments’
These days, it’s apparently become a norm for top Umno leaders here to advise their aspiring subordinates and supporters to cool it down and be patient. The appointments they claimed “will come”".
According to a BN insider, Musa is consultation with all leaders of BN components and it is inevitable that the “four minor parties give way to Umno in constituencies the lost.”
“It may not be many, but there are bound to be adjustments to accommodate Umno grassroot leaders in state constituencies where Umno contributed bulk of votes but still the BN candidates from PBS, UPKO and MCA lost,” said an Umno insider, who refused to be named.
Rumours of Umno “leaders” moving around the kampungs in constituencies that used to be PBS and Upko strongholds and telling the people they are taking up the various political appointments is upsetting the grassroots.
Most talked about here are the political appointees to a post styled Community Development Leader or Pemimpin Kemajuan Rakyat (PKR) for each of the 60 state seats.
In Sabah, the post of PKR is seen as second only in power and stature to the assemblyman.
While PBS is mulling the idea of appointing some of their defeated candidates as either political secretaries or PKR for their respective areas, Umno appears to have other plans.
Observers meanwhile are of the opinion that failing to retain status quo, PBS and UPKO would face internal wrath from their grassroots if Umno seizes these positions from them.
And this would further diminish the parties’ stature and influence especially among the Kadazandusun community.
Yesterday Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kittingan, a kadazandusun himself, urged the state government to allow elected representatives to nominate and appoint constituency officials like the PKR, village chiefs and the village committees.
“An elected representative is legitimately and democratically elected by the people in the constituency. (He or she) should be accorded the right and entitlement to appoint the constituency operation staff starting with the People Development Leader (PKR), ketua-ketua kampong and the village committees,” he said.
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