Last Term For Ongkili If Chosen And Wins Kota Marudu Seat

KOTA MARUDU, May 21 (Bernama) -- If Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili is chosen by the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to defend his Kota Marudu parliamentary seat and wins it in the next general election, it would be his last term, he said.

Ongkili, who is also PBS deputy president, told delegates at the PBS Tandek 27th annual general meeting, here, that he was ready to serve the constituency for the last time before making way for a younger, capable local leader to take over.

"Nevertheless, I will continue to serve the people in other capacities such as a mentor and advisor," he pledged.

He said the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat as well as the Tandek and Matunggong state seats under it, remained to be BN strongholds.

"The Kota Marudu constituency has progressed enormously over the past 10 years with the support and special attention of the BN federal and state governments," he said.

"This can be seen from new development programmes taking place in Kota Marudu, which include construction of two new secondary schools (SMK Marak Parak and SMK Langkon), a RM300 million water reticulation system and the Marak-Parak road to connect Kota Marudu to Ranau.

Ongkili attributed these successes to the fact that Kota Marudu folk had always been ardent supporters of BN.