Tamparuli and Tuaran, battles of poster in the 1999 general election.

Flashback: 1999 Sabah State Elections in pictures

February 26th, 2008 ( Re-post again inside www.tamparulisabah.com ) Adapted from: bengodomon.com

One of the most interesting Sabah State Elections happened in 1999. PBS was still in the opposition then: they left the BN in 1990 and rejoined on 23rd January 2002. It was the best story of General Election around Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu. The words used really nuts but carrying a prominent meaning for the people. I wish that I can turn back the time and make something precious for my country and people.  

The State Assembly was dissolved on 22nd February 1999 after much speculation. Nomination day: 2nd March. Election days: 11th – 12th March.

Here are some pictures that I took then, which, among others brings home the following points:

- personal attacks abound in politics, more so during intense campaigning so close to election day;

- there are no permanent enemies in politics, no matter how grave the accusations are

Pictures were taken in and around Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Tamparuli in early March 1999.

The following was written by supporters of Datuk Wilfred Bumburing attacking Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Of course today they are friends again:

Bumburing was the incumbent, winning the 1994 state elections by 5,087 votes. This time, he lost by more than 2,000 to PBS’ Edward Linggu Bukut. Revenge was complete. Another candidate, Datuk Monggoh Orow, the former Tuaran MP, standing on a Bersekutu ticket, was totally rejected: only 475. A year later Linggu defected to PBRS with 5 other assemblymen. A further 2 years down the road, he’s back in again. Yes, these politicians can really make the rakyat go nuts. And among the six original who defected, it seems that only Johnny Goh and Louis Rampas played their cards right – they’re still assemblymen now (well, at least until February 2008).

The “frog” issue (exodus of PBS assemblymen in 1994) was exploited to the full by PBS, you can see many many pictures of huge frogs with human heads, like the following caricature of Bumburing and Dompok:

Even if frogs were not drawn, the word “Katak” featured prominently:

This was one of Datuk Monggoh Orow’s most prominent billboards in the middle of Tamparuli:

And this one was pro PBS:

That year, Bersekutu was led by Datuk Harris Salleh. The following picture was taken along Tuaran road:

He stood in Likas and got more than 3,500 votes. Not bad for a state seat, but still he got less than the runnerup, Dr Chong Eng Leong (PBS) at 4K+ and the runaway winner, Datuk Yong Teck Lee at 9K+. Later the result was declared null and void, a by-election was held on 21st July 2001, and Datuk Yong got an even bigger majority: 7K+.

Look at this, it was dead serious then, but sounds very awkward in today’s context: Dompok vs Pairin:

The result then: Datuk Clarence Bongkos (PBS) got 10K+, Dompok got 6K+. In 1994, Dompok, while still in PBS won by >3K. In the same constituency was Benedict Sakunil Mansul, at 23 perhaps the youngest ever candidate in the history of Sabah State Elections. Representing Bersekutu, unfortunately he got less than 300 votes, but at least he got more than Datuk Conrad Mojuntin (Independent), ex minister: a mere 59 votes. If you think that’s bad, Pasok president Cleftus Mojingol got 18 votes. Surely it can’t get any worse than that? It can. During the 1990 state elections, Edmund Otigil (Independent), contesting against then chief minister, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan in Tambunan, got a mere 6 votes. 

Re-post back: By Harry George, from a blog friend Bengodomon.com

Herbert all for ICs to be re-issued to Sabahans

Community Development and Consumer Affairs Assistant Minister, Datuk Herbert Timbon Lagadan, is all for the ICs issued in Sabah to be returned to the authorities and re-issued so as to determine who are genuine Malaysians. Speaking at the dialogue on current issues at Taginambur polling district, Kg Gopog, Thursday, he also supported the unity of the leaders of the three KDM-based parties namely Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS), Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (Upko) and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PBRS).

"So, if our leaders can unite under the Gelombang Tataba, there's no reason why the KDM community could not do the same," he said.

He said that it was the KDM community, who previously had urged all KDM leaders to unite for the sake of the Kadazan, Dusun and Muruts in Sabah.

Hence, it is the KDM community's turn to unite under the Gelombang Tataba through the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"If we don't unite, the future for the KDM will be forever bleak," he said.

Last Tuesday, Dompok proposed that all ICs that were issued in Sabah be returned and reissued so that only genuine Malaysians in Sabah are given the identification document.

Daily Express

Story to shared : Dead - terrorist who tried to hack

The bodyguard to one of the Sulu militants who was killed in the encounter with Malaysian security personnel on March 2 was shot dead when he tried to slash a Malaysian personnel with a barong (Filipino machete).

The Malaysian was injured but not serious in the 8.40am incident in Kg Simunul, Semporna.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the security team was carrying out an integrated mopping up and search operation in the village when the man, in his 60s, suddenly tried to hack the security personnel.

"The security personnel managed to fire a shot at the assailant who turned out to be the bodyguard of a Sulu terrorist known as 'Imam Tua'," he told a press conference at the operation centre in Felda Sahabat 16, Friday.

"Imam Tua" was killed in the gun battle earlier which also claimed the lives of six Malaysian policemen, some of whose bodies were beheaded and mutilated by the terrorists.

Hamza said following a search on the house, the security team arrested two women, aged 45 and 30, who were the wife and daughter of the militant. Both of them did not have any valid travel documents and were currently detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

He said four men were also arrested during the operation. This brings the number of terrorists killed so far to 68 while 121 were arrested to facilitate investigations under Sosma and 443 others under other various Acts.

Hamza also said village chiefs and household heads in Kg Tanjung Batu would be allowed to join the assessment team and the National Security Council staff to assess the damage on their houses and village before they were allowed to return home on Saturday.

Only villagers with valid documents would be allowed to return home, while those without documents would be placed in a temporary settlement.

Adapted from Daily Express news paper.