KOTA KINABALU : Tan Sri Bernard Dompok's return to the Kadazan heartland of Penampang headlined the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation's (Upko) candidate list he announced, Friday.

He also named two new faces, which sees a major change in the party's four MP seats with only incumbent Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh being retained.

Dompok's return to Penampang, however, resulted in changes in the Upko's line-up there with incumbent Penampang MP Donald Mojuntin now fielded in the Moyog State seat which was vacated by incumbent Philip Lasimbang.

Announcing Upko's list of four MP and six state candidates at Rose Garden in Magellan Sutera Hotel, here, Dompok who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said he decided to return to Penampang after serving Ranau for the past two terms.

"I think we have done a good job and I would like to thank those who tolerated me being an outsider (in Ranau)," he said.

Furthermore, he said, this time Ranau would be represented by a native of the district. Replacing Dompok in Ranau is former Assemblyman Datuk Siringan Gubat, who is making a political comeback after a two-term lay-off.

As reported earlier, the Tuaran MP seat held by Upko Sec-Gen Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau was given to former Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, who is also Upko Deputy President.

Dompok also announced two new faces in the six State seats allocated to Upko. A virtually unknown, Teo Kwan Chin @ John Teo Mau Sing was chosen for the Kuala Penyu State seat which Upko lost to independent candidate Datuk John Ghani in the 2004 General Elections.

Teo is an administrative officer attached to the Kuala Penyu District Council as well as the treasurer of Upko Kuala Penyu division. The last newcomer for Upko in this elections is Masiung Banah who replaces incumbent Kuamut Assemblyman, Johnny Intang. Masiung, 36, from Penangah, the same village of former Assemblyman the late Datuk Malek Chua is Upko Youth vice chief and Upko Kuamut Youth chief.

Apart from Mojuntin who would be standing in Moyog, the rest of Upko's state candidates were maintained, namely Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin in Paginatan, Justin Guka in Bingkor and Datuk Bobbey Ahfang Suan in Nabawan.