PBS Youth Brushes Aside Victor Ongkili's Call For Pairin To Step Down

TAMPARULI, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Jahid Jahim has described the suggestion that party president and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan quit politics to avoid embarrassment if he loses in the next election, as improper and designed to confuse the people.

He said Pairin, the Huguan Siou (paramount leader of the Kadazandusun Murut community), with his integrity and strong credibility still enjoyed popular support in the state, particularly in his hometown of Tambunan.

Jahid, who is State Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, was commenting on the suggestion made by Victor Ongkili, who joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yesterday.

He said Victor, the older brother of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and PBS deputy head Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, was not even a voter in Tambunan and it was uncalled for him to ask Pairin to step down.

"The people of Tambunan are the ones to decide on Pairin's political future.

"PBS Youth is fully behind Pairin, who has proven his capability in championing the cause of the people, especially on the perennial issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah," he told Bernama after a meet-the-people session at SMK Tengilan, near here Tuesday.

"All leaders of PBS give him 100 per cent support and Pairin was unchallenged for the number one post in the recent PBS congress.

"This clearly shows that the party members and the people still need his leadership and that the question of Pairin stepping down or being forced to quit politics does not arise at all," Jahid added.

Yesterday, Victor and former Kiulu United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) deputy chief Panilau Kohong submitted their membership forms to Tuaran Keadilan chief Ansari Abdullah at Ansari's office in Lintas Plaza, Kota Kinabalu.

Victor later said that after 30 years in politics, "the time has come for Pairin to give way to younger leaders".