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Likely non-Malays sending message to govt:
Dompok
09
March 2008 (Source: Daily Express)
KOTA KINABALU: Incumbent Minister in the
Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard
Dompok said the shock verdict by the people on
the Barisan Nasional Government warrants a
review of how the Government works and carries
out its policies.
"Obviously the non-Malay population of this
country has something to say to the Government.
And I think this is very loud and clearly shown
in this election," he said, when asked to
comment.
Dompok, who won the Penampang Parliament seat,
told reporters this at his residence here:
"I think this is where we must play our part and
try to see, as the Prime Minister has promised
in the BN manifesto that no race will be
sidelined from the mainstream of development,"
he said.
The Upko President who gambled his political
future when he moved from his Ranau safe seat to
the Kadazan heartland of Penampang was savouring
victory like never before Saturday night.
Not only did his gamble - which even his closest
aides had been uneasy about - pay off but Upko,
which contested six State and four Parliament
seats romped home, registering a clean sweep for
the Barisan Nasional.
Topping the icing on the cake for Dompok was
that the party also managed to win the Kuala
Penyu State seat, albeit by a slim majority,
which it had lost to an Independent in the 2004
elections.
"A win by any majority is just as good. I think
the voters listened to all the pledges made by
BN. And we are here to ensure what have been
pledged by the BN manifesto is carried out and I
think we will participate fully in all the
debates and the implementation of what had been
promised by the Prime Minister," he said.
His victory also heralded a homecoming of sorts
after serving for the last two terms as the MP
for Ranau to which he moved after losing the
Moyog State seat in 1999 while he was still
Chief Minister under the then rotation system.
"A lot of people, including some of my friends
in Ranau, asked me to stay back because of the
fear that there is a movement in urban and
sub-urban areas against the BN Government," he
said.
"But I thought this is where I want our
leadership to be tested. I am happy we have won
in this constituency and able to represent the
people in all the work the BN government would
like to do for the people in Sabah," he added.
"In fact there has been a big swing against the
BN Government in the Chinese and Kadazandusun
areas. And of course Penampang is really almost
part of Kota Kinabalu. So you can expect a swing
against it but we have stood firmly," he said.
"I hope to sit down with the people here, in
order to sort out what is the best for the
people in this constituency."
He assured that all the Upko elected
representatives will work hard for the people in
their respective constituency.
Besides Dompok the party secured MP seats
through Datuk Wilfred Bumburing (Tuaran), Datuk
Dr Marcus Mojigoh (Putatan) and Datuk Siringan
Gubat (Ranau). The State seats were won by
Donald Mojuntin (Moyog), Justin Guka (Bingkor),
John Teo (Kuala Penyu), Masiung bin Banah (Kuamut),
Datuk Bobbey Suan (Nabawan), Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin
(Paginatan).
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