The Kota Marudu MP said he had been a member of the Dewan Rakyat for so long that he wished he could change course to serve the people at the state level.
Ongkili, 64, was Bandau MP for two terms from 1995 to 2004 before the Election Commission replaced the constituency with Kota Marudu, which he won during the polls in 2004, 2008 and 2013.
“I’ve served as an MP for five terms and I’ve been thinking of contesting a state seat this time round, probably in Tambunan,” he said at a press conference here today.
Ongkili, who is now energy, green technology and water minister, said he needed to discuss the matter with Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is the current assemblyman of Tambunan and MP for Keningau.
In July last year, Pairin had said he would remain president of the party until the end of this term of Parliament and the Sabah assembly.
Ongkili, who has been deputy president for 22 years, was appointed acting president.
Ongkili said Pairin had almost finalised a decision not to contest in the next election.
“It’s like 99% (chance) he will not contest. There’s still 1% whereby he may change his mind,” he said.
Ongkili declined to comment on whether he would defend his current parliamentary seat or contest another parliamentary seat such as Keningau, if his wish to run at the state level was not granted.
Pairin, 77, had said during a Christmas gathering yesterday that he would listen to any advice that the party’s leadership had on the matter although there was a slim chance of him running again.
Having served as PBS president since 1985, he had been mulling retirement from politics since November last year.
He said he wanted to spend more time with his family, particularly his grandchildren, and finish a book he was writing.