Pairin still has X factor in the community

WELL RESPECTED: Paramount leader has served the Kadazandusun and Murut for more than 30 years 

KENINGAU: TAN Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is defending his Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state constituencies, which he has held since 1986 and 1976 respectively, still commands attention from the Kadazandusun and Murut communities. 

The 72-year-old Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president is, after all, their Huguan Siou (paramount leader). 

As Tambunan resident Abd Ghaffar Affandi puts it, he has an aura that not many former chief ministers have. (Pairin helmed Sabah from April 1985 to March 1994.) 

“Only two have it — Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun and him. While the rest have either faded away or joined the opposition, Pairin continues to be actively involved in serving the people. 

“People in Tambunan know him so well as he has served after his more than 30 years of service here. Supporters of different parties still respect him as the Huguan Siou,” said the 45-year-old eatery owner from Kampung Tondulu. 

Jamilah Mair, 40, from Bingkor, described Pairin as an approachable leader who is always concerned about issues onat the ground. 

“He never fails to attend local events, such aslike the launching of Kaamatan celebrations or other agricultural programmes organised here. If we choose to go with his brother (Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan of State Reform Party Sabah), I am not as confident that development plans will be continued,” said the local cake seller. 

Pairin will be facing his younger brother, who is now helming Star Sabah, for the Keningau parliamentary seat, a repeat of the 2008 general election where he beat Jeffrey and Peter Anthony Kodou of DAP by more than 4,000 a majority of 4,264 votes. 

His fellow BN candidate for the Liawan state seat, incumbent Datuk Sairin Karno, has this to say about Pairin. 

“People ask why he still wants to contest at this old age. That’s because he believes he has an social obligation to ensure that the people are not being misled by the wrong group or the opposition.” said Sairin. 

Speaking at one of his campaign sessions in Kampung Kauran here, Sairin gave examples of strong leaders, like Ronald Reagan who took office at the age of 70. 

Jeffrey still has a long way to go to get where his older brother is. 

Pairin is already in a tag-team with Tan Sri Bernard Dompok’s United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup’s Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), rolling out what they call the Gelombang Tataba to create a united Kadazandusun Murut community.

--NST

More Bullet

Sabah Barisan Nasional is confident of winning the coming election

SANDAKAN: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has given his Barisan Nasional coalition the edge in the 13th general election which is two weeks away. 

Musa told the media outside the Libaran multipurpose hall after the nominations closed today that the ruling coalition is confident of winning the coming election due to the “strong cooperation among component parties”. 

“The people’s confidence in Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is growing because of the BN’s AkuJanji manifesto which is the best and comprehensive,” said Musa who is also the Sabah BN chairman. 

“We in BN have worked together among component parties and have been meeting the people to explain to them what we have done and implemented for the good of the people,” Musa told the media with which he has had a difficult relationship with. 

“I believe the people will continue to support BN because we have the best manifesto apart from good and capable leaders. 

“What is important is for us to work together and strengthen unity to ensure success in the 13th general election,” he added. 

On the five-cornered contest for the Sungai Sibuga state seat which he is the incumbent, Musa said it showed that democratic process is being practised and the government never prevented anyone from contesting or becoming a candidate in the elections.

--SABAHKINI

More Bullet