Age is not a problem: Dompok

Putatan: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the main issue against him in Penampang - where he is defending his parliamentary seat - is that he (Dompok) is too old and had been too long in politics.

"But I don't feel old. When I see in TV, (opposition leaders) Nik Aziz and Lim Kit Siang, I ask my wife why people say I am older than them? I don't believe they are younger than me?" he said.

"On May 5, please come out to vote for Datuk Yahya Hussin for the Petagas state seat and Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh for the Putatan Parliament seat, while those in Penampang, please don't forget me," he said, at a meet-the-people session at Kg Duvanson, Saturday.

He also said the call for change or "tukar" must not necessarily apply to a change of the government but merely policies that are deemed non-beneficial.

He said the country had seen tremendous improvement and changes through the various transformation programmes implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"This is why Upko and other BN component parties stand united behind the Prime Minister and his transformation programmes," he said.

Dompok described the 13th General Election as very unique compared to the previous one in 2008 and let alone the 2004 general election when BN was not challenged.

"But I think Malaysians know only the BN is qualified to lead the country.

Yes, there could be a small voice in Putatan who are saying "ini kali lah" and those denying the development brought about by the BN all this while," he said.

However, the right answer for him is the various transformation programmes that had been implemented by the BN under the leadership of Najib.

"We have been calling for the illegal immigrant issue to be resolved but never got an absolute answer until after Najib took office whereby the Federal Government agreed to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah," he said.

Dompok, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, recalled in 2008 that he had spoken in Parliament calling for the abolishment of the ISA, which he felt was a law that was no longer necessary.

Finally, the Prime Minister agreed to repeal the ISA among others after discussing it with the Federal Cabinet.

Another significant matter was the recognition of September 16, as Malaysia Day when it was declared a national public holiday during Najib's administration, he said.

As for the call for an increase in oil royalty to 20 per cent, he said it was not necessary to change the government in order to get it because the BN had given its commitment to give allocations to Sabah of not less than the value of 20 per cent oil royalty, in the BN "Akujanji" manifesto.

Towards this end, Dompok urged the people here to continue supporting the BN candidate for Petagas, Datuk Yahya Hussin and Putatan Parliament, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh.

"This election I can feel that it will be BN once again, the opposition cannot win and they also cannot administer the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Mojigoh said the BN campaign approach here reflected the unity culture in BN.

"We totally reject the culture of violence," he said.

He also welcomed the entry of about 300 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members led by PKR Tanjung Aru election director, Duarin Harris.

Later, Mojigoh accompanied Dompok to receive the membership applications from them.