Upko information chief Albert Bingkasan said Tangau, 59, was special, as he was the first local leader from Tuaran to hold three important positions at a time.
Besides being MP and acting party president, Tangau, a native of Kampung Lokos in the Kiulu state constituency, is also the federal science, technology and innovation minister.
“It’s actually a real history for Tuaran, and especially Kiulu, because this is the first time they have a leader who holds three important positions, all at the same time.
“If the voters in Tuaran don’t see this as a reason to vote him then I’m very sad,” Bingkasan said.
Tangau’s ascendancy began shortly after he won Tuaran with a 5,190-vote majority in the 2013 general election, defeating PKR’s Wilfred Bumburing.
This was followed by Upko president and founder Bernard Dompok stepping down and naming him the successor. Tangau was previously the party’s deputy president.
In 2015, he replaced Ewon Ebin, an Upko vice-president, as the science, technology and innovation minister.
Bingkasan said Tangau was left with a heavy responsibility by Dompok but had managed to deliver for the party, as well as the ministry and constituency.
“We hope this track record will be considered by the people when voting,” he said.
Located 34km from Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran has a population of over 108,000 people.
Half of the 48,276 voters there comprise non-Muslim Bumiputeras, with Muslims accounting for 44% and Chinese 6%.
Bingkasan said Tangau had managed to get RM300 million in funds to build the 84km Telipok-Rondonggung road that will spur economic development and drive up property values in Tuaran once completed.
“He also prioritises education. It is no accident that schools in Tuaran have been high performers in the state lately,” he added.
Bingkasan is confident of Barisan Nasional’s (BN) chances at the next polls, with Upko working well with Umno and PBS in Sabah.
BN also holds two state seats in Tuaran, with Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Joniston Bangkuai in Kiulu and Umno’s Hajiji Noor in Sulaman.
But another state constituency, Tamparuli, was won by PKR’s Bumburing, who has since left the party and joined the opposition Parti Cinta Sabah, of which he is the president.
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