Does Pairin really love the KDM ?

By Ezra Haganez
KOTA BELUD: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) posed a question to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leadership on what makes it wanting to stick with UMNO when clearly UMNO is not a help in solving many of the state' perennial problems especially the 1.7 million illegal immigrants overstaying in Sabah, and Malaysian identity cards issued to them.

A member of SAPP's Supreme Council, Peter Marajin, said the people at large should pose the same question to PBS President Joseph Pairin Kitingan, whenever they encounter him so as to hear Pairin's own explanation on the matter.

Speaking at SAPP function in Kampung Bukid near here recently, he said: "I know some of us especially the elders in the Kadazandusun community still love Pairin, but we must ask ourselves does Pairin love us, like when long time ago he really fought for our rights ?

"Many of us still love him, but does he love us? does he ? or does he love other things?," he reiterated the question which hit the mind of the audience.

Lawyer Marajin said Pairin's excuse for being in cahoot with UMNO was that he loved the "rakyat" appeared did not hold water as UMNO was not listening to Sabahans' plights on various issues close to Pairin's own heart, unless Pairin is a changed man now.

He said, instead Pairin is allowing himself to become the tool of UMNO to hegemonise Sabahans and in return PBS leaders told PBS members that they are with UMNO because of the people.

"PBS knows UMNO is not sincere in helping to achieve what PBS struggled for. So there you are, you may know why Pairin still want to stick with UMNO," he said adding that the Kadazandusuns, Pairin's political base, is severely marginalised under the current PBS-UMNO relationship.

Also present at the function were SAPP deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun and SAPP head for Kadamaian CLC, Agnes Liew.