Despite defection letdown, PKR focuses on change in Sabah

ARCHIVES 2012

By admin-s On Jun 11, 2012

Bumburing is puzzled as to why the national media is suddenly focusing on his supposed defection to the opposition. Picture courtesy of sabahkinimirror.blogspot.com

(The Malaysian Insider) – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing did not defect as widely speculated yesterday but Sabah’s rumour mills still turn as PKR leaders continue to exude confidence over their prediction of an imminent shift in the state’s political landscape.

Even the Tuaran MP added to the speculation last night by playing coy when questioned by The Malaysian Insider on the matter, saying: “Nothing happened now, I will let you know when it happens.”

“I have to be careful with what I say in front of reporters,” he added, laughing. There was no outright denial however from the calm-sounding United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisations (UPKO) deputy president, whose rumoured defection yesterday was said to have caught the local media in a harried state of confusion.

“Let’s put it this way. It is simply this — today’s speculation was not true. Nothing happened. I was just doing my job as the Tuaran MP.

“I know a lot of people were expecting things. But I do not know why the national media is suddenly focusing on me now,” he said.

Bumburing was expected at 3.30pm yesterday to shed his BN colours at a Pesta Kaamatan festival in Kota Belud alongside Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but a downpour had waylaid the PKR de facto leader for over two hours.

Bumburing’s purported defection was to kick off about five more crossovers to PKR, with local politicians having earlier named UPKO vice-president Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap, former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Osu Sukam, former Banggi assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar Mustapha and former federal minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam, as among the few likely to jump ship.

But after the flight delay, Anwar was whisked off to attend a PKR function elsewhere in Kota Kinabalu, and was kept occupied until at night when he had to grace another PKR event at the Star City Convention Hall.

As at midnight shortly after the dinner function, the speculated crossovers remained mere rumours.

But despite the spectre of PKR’s failed September 16 takeover of Putrajaya still dangling over their heads, party leaders remained unfrazzled by the apparent letdown.

When pressed for updates by reporters at the evening gathering, Anwar neither denied nor confirmed if the rumours were true to begin with.

“That is not my statement,” he said, when asked to confirm if six prominent Sabah BN leaders would join PKR. A transcript of his response was sent to The Malaysian Insider by the local media.

Anwar, however, admitted to having met with some of the individuals speculated as likely to join PKR but did not state the purpose of such meetings.