Pairin, Dompok, Kurup in rare show of unity

Against simmering anti-BN sentiments amongst the
Kadazan Dusun Murut communities, PBS, Upko
and PBRS leaders came together in the name of religion.

KOTA KINABALU: Three Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) leaders offered each other the hand of unity last night in a long awaited encounter, symbolising their resolve to help Barisan Nasional (BN) win the 13th general election.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) president Bernard Dompok, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Joseph Kurup shook hands at a ceremony to hand over RM4.5 million worth of goods to heads of churches in Sabah, here.

In what is seen as a show of solidarity, they are bent on working together to ensure victory for BN led by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

“Its interesting to see all three party leaders together again, particularly for a noble cause. Tonight’s event, the handing over of aid to churches, is a good sign for us.

“As far as unity is concerned, there is nothing impossible that we can look forward to in future,” the three the BN component leaders concurred.

Pairin said that such collaboration is timely and appropriate to further strengthen relations between the three BN component parties.

“This is on top of efforts undertaken by the BN government and hopefully something good will come out of it.”

Dompok said although the three leaders had met numerous times during their course of work as federal and state ministers, this was the first time the three parties had really focused on unity to achieve the common goal of helping churches in Sabah.

He opined that unity would be the key to success for BN in facing the opposition in the coming general election.

Asked whether the meeting of the three KDM leaders was a good omen for BN, Kurup concurred, hoping such collaboration would continue for other programmes, including distribution of rubber seedlings to rural folks.

UPKO secretary-general Wilfred Madius Tangau who led the implementing committee of Tataba Operation to aid churches in Sabah said the programme was initiated by the three parties.

He said the RM4.5 million worth of goods, collected through sponsorship, would be distributed to 12 churches in Sabah, depending on the needs of the congregation.

These churches included Anglican, Roman Catholic, Basel Christian Church,Sidang Injil Borneo, Calvary Charismatic Centre, Sabah Methodist Church, Sabah Evangelical Mission, Protestant Church of Sabah, Grace Chapel, Sabah Baptist Association, Seventh Day Adventist and True Jesus Church.

-Bernama