In the last election in 2013, party president Bernard Dompok had said GE13 would be the last time the party’s “Class of 85” would contest in.
He said he hoped to see the party led by new faces in the next election.
Tangau, the federal minister of science, technology and innovation, said Upko will field younger candidates who can speak the language of the people on the ground.
“We would like to have young, vibrant and energetic candidates. We will go for the best candidates.
“I think it is about time for the people in areas represented by the opposition, such as Penampang and Moyog, to be represented by leaders from the government side,” he said.
Currently, Upko is represented by four assemblymen in the state assembly and three MPs in parliament including Tangau.
Five of the leaders are from what Dompok called the “Class of 85”, a reference to those who represented Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the 1985 state election that ousted the then ruling Parti Berjaya government.
PBS went on to win three more state elections but it disintegrated after the 1994 polls due to defections. Upko is one of the parties that was formed in the aftermath.
Today, both Upko and PBS are among the component parties in the ruling Sabah Barisan Nasional.
The Upko “old-timers” are Paginatan assemblyman Siringan Gubat, Nabawan assemblyman Bobbey Ahfang Suan, Ranau MP Ewon Ebin, Putatan MP Marcus Mojigoh and Tangau himself who is Tuaran MP.
Tangau said the party will do its best to wrest back the seats they lost in the last election, namely Penampang, Moyog and Bingkor.
Penampang was lost by Dompok to then-PKR candidate Darell Leiking while Upko’s Philip Lasimbang was defeated by PKR candidate Terrence Siambun in Moyog. Both the incumbents have since joined Parti Warisan Sabah.
In Bingkor, Upko’s newcomer Kennedy John Jie was defeated by Star candidate Jeffrey Kitingan by a 456-vote majority.
Tangau said the party has already notified prospective candidates in each of the 10 seats it has been allocated to give them time to work the ground and prepare themselves should they be selected.
“Since Upko is a component party in BN, we will not pre-empt the chairman in making the announcement on our candidates. I believe the chairman should be given the honour to do so.
“Only those who want to announce that they don’t want to stand, they are free to do so but it is not up to me,” he said.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/09/08/madius-%e2%80%93-ewon-clash-in-upko-polls/
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/04/07/upko-elected-members-cry-foul-over-new-appointments/