KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) remains intact in the Putatan division despite claims that over 1,000 members had quit the party.
Party information chief Albert Bingkasan said Putatan Upko would remain and carry on its activities as usual with existing members taking charge to reorganise the division.
On Jan 26, Putatan Upko chief Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh announced his departure after expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership.
More than of 1,600 division members were also said to have signed a letter of resignation to quit the former Barisan Nasional component party.
"To the best of my knowledge, we had not received the resignation letters, not even from Dr Marcus himself. Therefore we won’t be able to comment on it (the mass exodus) for now.
“Whatever it is, we believe Putatan Upko will continue to exist as we have since received information that there are members who are still with the party and ready to reorganise the division,” said Bingkasan.
He said it is always regretful when a member and a leader decided to resign from the party, while expressing his gratitude for Mojigoh's service in Upko for the past few years.
He described Mojigoh, who is also former Upko treasurer general and former three-term Putatan MP, as a very dedicated parliamentarian and also a committed servant of Upko.
“However, we understand that in politics nothing remains definite but are constantly changing and evolving with time," added Bingkasan, who is also political secretary to the Upko President cum Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
"We do not deny that we have lost a very senior party leader but at the same time we must also appreciate the prospect that the party will continue to progress with new leaders taking over the helm,” he said.
Bingkasan noted that Mojigoh has been among those who were instrumental to bring where UPKO is now.
Mojigoh, when contacted, said his and other Putatan division members’ decision to quit was purely due to internal matters in Upko, stressing grassroot members were not satisfied with the party leadership.
"Our leaders refused to entertain the voice of the people, especially from our own members. The Putatan people in general have expressed unhappiness with the way 'wakil rakyat' treated us.
"We have been treated as if we are in the opposition and may as well be in the opposition. There are many more reasons that is better not to be mentioned.”
On his political future, Mojigoh said he would take a break first but noted that there have been leaders from other parties inviting him to subscribe to their struggle.