PENAMPANG, Feb 16- The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) has submitted a list of new and familiar names as candidates to be considered for the 13th General Election. UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said more than one name was submitted for each constituency, allotted to UPKO.
“All of them (potential candidates) are subject to scrutiny. Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) wants to through each name and consider the
best candidate,” he said when met by reporters after a pre-UPKO convention dinner here last night. When asked if he was also on the list of potential candidates to defend his Penampang Parliamentary seat, Dompok said: “We will divulge those names (candidates) when the day comes.”
UPKO is also hoping to contest for the Sepanggar Parliamentary seat left vacant for Barisan Nasional (BN) after Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) disserted the ruling coalition six months after the last general election.
UPKO Secretary-General Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said UPKO was only keen on Sepanggar compared to other seats held by SAPP as the number of Kadazandusun voters was substantial in that area with about 30 percent of the total voters.
“Yes, we have expressed that we want Sepanggar. But still, we will leave the decision to the BN leadership when it comes to the best party that can win,” he said.
Meanwhile, Madius said UPKO will be holding its national convention on Feb 23, at the Menggatal Community Hall. He said the convention was to gear up the party’s preparedness for the coming general election and more than 3,000 people, comprising mainly the party’s district polling centre personnel and party leaders, are expected attend.
In the last General Election, UPKO contested and won the Penampang, Tuaran, Putatan and Ranau parliament seats, as well as the Paginatan, Moyog, Nabawan, Bingkor, Kuala Penyu and Kuamut state assembly seats.
BERNAMA
