Ongkili, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister and Kota Marudu MP, will also run the party’s office and administration work until the formal handover. “The Huguan Siou (Pairin) will continue to be invaluable, whether politically active or otherwise.”
His 22 years as Deputy President, he stressed, gives him the confidence that he can add value to the party by re-inventing its machinery and sharpening its focus. Still, the basic maxim of PBS shall be maintained, and further strengthened.
Ongkili was thanking Pairin and the party’s Supreme Council, on the sidelines of an Aidil Fitri function, for entrusting him with the party but anticipates the political task ahead to be challenging. Pairin, he pointed out for starters, had set a very high standard in leadership, especially in humility, integrity and resilience.
Nevertheless, he’s all set and focused to bring the party to greater heights and owes it all to Pairin, his political mentor.
Again, he reminded that like other parties, PBS had to reinvent itself from time to time to face emerging “challenges”.
The core struggle remains the same, defence and promotion of multiracial politics, protection of Sabah rights and pursuit of the state’s security through resolution of the problem of illegal immigrants.
“We need to be more persistent and bolder in pursuing these goals, even through the Barisan Nasional (BN),” he pledged. “We make no apologies in being vocal on these issues.”
In addition, he also believes there’s a need to inject “new blood” to maintain the multiracial makeup of the party to “ensure the long term succession plan can be maintained”.
Ongkili referred in particular to the 59 days he spent in detention under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1991, and said “the misfortune” strengthened his fervour to speak up for the truth. It renewed his faith in God, he added, “yielding invaluable lessons on political resilience and management”.
He disclosed, for the first time, that he was detained under the ISA after being implicated in Borneo rights activist Jeffrey Kitingan’s alleged plan to take Sabah out of Malaysia. Jeffrey is Ongkili’s uncle.
His first nine years as MP was as a member of the Opposition, he recalled. “I learnt a lot the hard way.”
“The last three terms as a Cabinet Minister exposed me to decision-making in the Federal Government.”
Hence he reckons that PBS was quite seasoned to face the challenges confronting the party.
PBS Secretary-General Johnny Mositun announced on Friday that the Supreme Council, at the request of Pairin, resolved that Ongkili would assume the party leadership in an acting capacity.
Pairin, he said, would remain Party President until the end of this term of Parliament and the Sabah Assembly. In the meantime, he would continue with his ministerial duties in the Sabah Government and NGO work.