PAIRIN HAS BETRAYED HIS PEOPLE – Veteran

PENAMPANG (Sabah Malaysia): Tan Sri HJoseph Pairin Kitingan has failed his people, and is now colluding with Umno to perpetuate injustice toward the people of Sabah, including the Kadazandusuns and Muruts, says a political veteran here.

FREDOLINE EDWIN LOJINGKI

   Fredoline Edwin Lojingki, 71, who was a close associate of Pairin during since the rise and rule of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said in a statement here that he has had enough of increasingly UMNO-leaning Joseph Pairin Kitingan and PBS lately. “In fact I have totally lost confidence in Pairin to continue leading Sabahns, especially the natives,” Lojingki said. “Undfer him PBS has deviated very far away from its original struggle to safeguard the state and the Kadazanduysun and Murut community.”
   "Pairin has been more and more detached from the aspiration of the grassroots, and he sometimes appears to choose UMNO and self-interests ahead of the Sabahans,” he added. “As a conscientious Sabahan who still remember the strong Spirit of 1985 I can no longer pretend to support such leadership."

    Lojingki also lamented Pairin's statement on the issue of Native Customary Right (NCR) here which was carried by local newspapers in which he said he would wait for Musa's leadership and Cabinet decision on the NCR issue. “This kind of statement is not the right thing for a Kadazandusun Huguan Siou (Paramount Leader ) to say,” he said. “The least Pairin could do was to state his own mind on the legal issue of NCR. Why must wait for Musa or the State Cabinet? The reporters asked him for his opinion on the NCR legality and all he said was he would wait for the Cabinet to discuss, as if he and his party PBS have no opinion or stand over the matter. This is frustrating for many people.”
    Wishing his old friend good luck, Lojingki said he has decided to join Pairin's younger brother Dr Jeffrey in State Reform Party (STAR). "This is the time for us to unite under a new leader for the rights of the Sabahans,” he said. “I know Dr. Jeffrey is doing the right thing and is being very courageous in his struggle, unoike his leder brother who is just a stooge dancing to the tune of Umno.”