Jeffrey claims Pairin is suffering from memory loss.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is resorting to making up stories and mogunsamang (talking nonsense) to try to retain his support among voters in Keningau and Tambunan, according to his brother, Star Sabah Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

In a statement, Saturday, Jeffrey said Pairin was also trying hard to curry more favour with his BN bosses.

He was responding to Pairin's accusation that "my own brother (Dr Jeffrey) took his friends from Yayasan Sabah with him and as a result we lost the Kadazandusun people there."

"I am shocked that my brother's memory is already failing him," said Jeffrey.

"He has already forgotten that I was dismissed from my post as Yayasan Sabah Director after the Umno/BN government wrested away power from PBS in 1994."

"And he should also know that I was about to sue the government for wrongful dismissal, but they decided to avert a trial and paid me an out-of-court settlement," he added.

"Under such circumstances, how was I to take away my friends, and where would I take them to?"

He also reminded Pairin that the reason there are no Kadazandusuns in senior positions in Yayasan Sabah today is because the State BN Government decided to radically reduce the number of employees in Yayasan Sabah in 2001 or 2002 by offering them VSS packages.

"And most of those affected were Kadazandusun officers," Jeffrey said, adding, "so how on earth did Pairin come up with the silly idea that I was the cause of them leaving Yayasan?"

Jeffrey also regretted that in a speech in Tambunan on Friday night, Pairin questioned why the people were supporting the opposition when the Government is busy giving away gifts to the people in the form of gravity water, balairaya and others.

"Is Pairin saying that after 49 years of independence, BN is only able to give gravity water and balairayas?" he asked.

"Why not give something more substantial like piped water, roads for the villages, and economic programmes to make them financially self-reliant?

"It is exactly because of this lethargy of the Government that is causing the people to look for change, and they see this opportunity in the opposition parties which have more innovative ideas."

He said what the government should be doing is kick-starting the economy of the people in the Interior and the State, instead of continuing to do the same things which have made the State the poorest in the country.

"Pairin is so proud of the formation of the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiriy on Illegal Immigrants) and claims that PBS is still speaking up for the people's rights," he said.

"But Pairin is now spending most of his time praising the BN leadership and no longer speaking for the people.

"And the RCI is not even moving, and it is obvious it was announced to shut the people up about the urgency of solving the problem of illegal immigrants."

Datuk Bernard Maraat

Turn to Independent Party.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan on Sunday refuted claims that Sook PBS divisional chief, Datuk Bernard Maraat, had threatened to stand as an independent candidate in the next election if not allowed to contest as a BN representative in the constituency.

"I was there (during the Sook's AGM) and I never heard him (Maraat) say it," he said, after attending the Hari Raya Open House hosted by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor at Dewan Bersatu here.

He also said that Maraat has never requested from him that he be given an opportunity to contest in the coming 13th general election.

He said disciplinary action would be taken against any Barisan Nasional (BN) member who stood as an independent candidate in the election.

He said whoever issued the statement (to the media) probably must have misheard or misquoted Maraat. According to him, during the AGM, Sook PBS did announce its membership increase, which is normal in any party.

Pairin, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said it is up to the leadership to approve BN candidates for the election. He reminded that the Prime Minister only wanted winnable candidates.

Last Friday, Sook PBS youth chief, Kahirin Bador urged Pairin to take action against Maraat for issuing the ultimatum.

He alleged that Maraat had uttered the threat during the meeting during which Pairin and other PBS leaders were also present.

He further alleged that Maraat had demanded the Sook (PBRS) and Nabawan (Ukpo) state seats and Pensiangan (PBRS) parliamentary seat all be given to the PBS to contest in the election.

On other developments, Pairin said the proposal for the creation of more parliamentary and state seats should considered in actual context and not for the sake of having additional seats only.

He said the demand for the increase should be to enable development to be given more focus. He said there are constituencies in which there is only one MP and that due to the constituency size, it is difficult to take care of it.

"In retrospect, we must take into consideration the people's needs so that development can be given more attention," he said.

The additional seat also must be studied first and for it to be discussed in the BN for exchange of views.

Pairin said no in-depth research has been carried out on the matter and yet the people are already fighting for it.

The demand for the creation of more parliamentary and state seats has been ongoing since previously he said but that it must be carried out from a well-intentioned approach and not out of political emotion.

In fact, he said the timing should also be taken into consideration adding that there are many other factors for consideration.

"We have to bring to the table to discuss and look at the proposed boundary and population," he said.

He said when a meeting is called for he would bring up the matter.

Sabah Todays
Sources: Daily Express