Universiti Malaysia Sarawak deputy dean Dr Arnold Puyok said the main hurdle for parties such as Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah were that they did not have young and progressive leaders.
He noted that only United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) had young leaders but “some of them are quite reserved… That’s the problem, they’re not too sure,” he said at a forum on “GE14 and Implications for Sabah” at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Puyok said the KDM parties should go beyond talking about cultural identity or Sabah issues. “Talk about providing jobs for the KDM people, to assist them to go university. They have to go beyond ethnicity.”
Tony Paridi Bagang of Universiti Teknologi Mara spoke of being reprimanded by a PBS member when trying to give constructive criticism about rejuvenating the party.
“I told (the member) to bring in new heads, but even at that, please don’t be pilih bulu (selective) because I see PBS as having become too elitist. They are okay with people who can work with them and on having the same mind but people who criticise, they will look as challenging,” he said.
He said PBRS faced a tough challenge, with many divisions closing as its members and division leaders have resigned.
He said Upko, which had helped to form the state government (with Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan), needed to bring forward their younger leaders to give new ideas.
“They should not be restrained by the party whip, a tradition which they have learned when they were in Barisan Nasional,” Bagang said.
Puyok said PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan had made a big mistake in deciding to contest the general election despite wanting to retire.
“I think it’s quite sad. Pairin should not have contested the election. I think he wanted to retire but probably due to pressure from the chief minister or leadership, he had to contest.
“This is the problem with PBS … had Pairin left, I think that would have been the end of PBS,” he said.
Pairin is the Huguan Siou or paramount leader of the Kadazandusun Murut community.
“They still need Pairin to steer the party. If not Pairin, then who will lead PBS?,” he said. He was certain many PBS people were not that supportive of (deputy president) Maximus Ongkili.
Malay-Muslim members and Chinese members were also leaving, while those who stayed were Maximus supporters, he said.
Bagang urged those entrusted with choosing the next Huguan Siou to avoid anyone with a political affiliation.
Pairin lost in Tambunan at the general election and was notably absent from the celebrations of the harvest festival, or Kaamatan, at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association hall here this year, which is regarded as a compulsory event for the Huguan Siou.
Upko has joined the Warisan-PH fold, and PBS has formed a pact with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) called Gabungan Bersatu. PBRS has yet to join any alliance despite claiming it was joining PH.