He said his resignation would take effect on March 21, exactly 20 years to the registration day of the party that he had founded and headed.
“I had given my decision to step down a lot of thought and soul searching,” a calm Dompok told the media at his village in Kampung Inobong in Penampang near here on Wednesday.
He said that it was not easy decision due to the numerous objections from party members after he told the Upko management committee his decision to step at a meeting on Feb 21.
“An overstaying leader can stunt the growth of the party. A long stewardship brings with it the problem of stagnation,” Dompok said.
“A change brings with it the opportunity to further try out new ideas. This is even more important today with the changing political landscape in the country.”
“An oft quoted adage goes: doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the height of madness,” said Dompok who was surrounded by his Upko supreme council members.
Among them was party deputy president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau whom Dompok said would take over as acting president as provided by the Upko constitution.
Dompok said despite no longer helming the party, he would continue to speak out about issues, especially those championed by Upko, in noting that even former premier and Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to “rage on.”
“I am the founding president of this party and I have every reason to see this party succeed. It is a legacy issue,” he said in adding that his decision to relinquish the Upko presidency had nothing to do with his failure to defend the Penampang parliamentary seat in the 13th general election.
“I just feel it’s about time to pass on the baton to younger leaders. Our second echelon leaders are already getting on. We may not have the opportunity to savour their best contribution,” said the 64-year-old Dompok.
Asked about the possibility of Upko facing a leadership tussle after his departure as president, Dompok said “we have passed the test as seen from our last party polls.”
“It was a hotly contested election. We take lessons from the vigour that the party members displayed and although the electioneering was more robust than in previous years, we have come out intact,” he said.
On Upko’s achievements during his tenure as president, he said these included the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Sabah illegal immigrants.
He said Upko had also been vocal on religious matters including the freedom for worship and had contributed its input in the 10 point solution on the usage of the word Allah and bible issues.
On the education front, Dompok said Upko was among those who had pushed for the teaching of Kadazandusun language in schools.
“We are also proud that the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) had set up a Kadazandusun chair in the 1990’s,” he added.
STar
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