United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation
Encyclopedia
The United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation is a regional political party
in Malaysia based in the state of Sabah
. It was established in 1978. Before its deregistration, it was the oldest political party in Sabah that was currently still in existence . Despite being a party that maintains a Kadazan-Dusun
ethnocentric platform, membership is opened to all ethnicities and the party's leadership has multi-ethnic representation .
The term Nunukragang refers to Nunuk Ragang
, the traditional birthplace of the Kadazan-Dusun
culture and civilization.
, Dusun
, and Murut people
peoples. In 1985, PASOK joined the newly formed Sabah United Party in a coalition government after the latter won the 1985 state legislative elections
. PASOK won its only seat in the state legislature to date when the then party president, Ignatius Stephen Malanjum, won the Moyog state constituency .
due to an ongoing feud involving rival claimants to the party presidency . PASOK candidates that were originally slated to stand either chose to stand as independent candidates or dropped out from the elections.
On February 28, 2008, the Registrar of Societies issued a revocation of registration notice to PASOK citing the failure of the party to resolve their leadership crisis involving Cleftus Mojinggol, John Richard Jayasuria and Hendry Sabagang Rumpit who had all claimed the party's presidency. The party was then de-registered on May 27 although one of the claimants claimed that he had yet to received the notice from the Registrar and that the party leadership crisis had been solved following a delegate's conference that had elected new office bearers on May 23.
The party is still able to appeal against the decision to revoke the registration of the party within 30 days of the date of revocation and legal advice is being sought about this matter .
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Malaysia based in the state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
. It was established in 1978. Before its deregistration, it was the oldest political party in Sabah that was currently still in existence . Despite being a party that maintains a Kadazan-Dusun
Kadazan-Dusun
Kadazan-Dusun is the term assigned to the unification of the classification of two indigenous tribes in Sabah, Malaysia—the ethnic groups Kadazan and Dusun.- History :...
ethnocentric platform, membership is opened to all ethnicities and the party's leadership has multi-ethnic representation .
The term Nunukragang refers to Nunuk Ragang
Nunuk Ragang
Nunuk Ragang is a legendary red banyan tree traditionally located at the intersection of the left and right branches of the Liwagu River to the east of Ranau and Tambunan in Sabah. The word "Nunuk" is a Dusun word for the Banyan tree, and "Ragang" comes from "aragang", the Dusun word for red...
, the traditional birthplace of the Kadazan-Dusun
Kadazan-Dusun
Kadazan-Dusun is the term assigned to the unification of the classification of two indigenous tribes in Sabah, Malaysia—the ethnic groups Kadazan and Dusun.- History :...
culture and civilization.
Political platform
PASOK subscribes to a 7 point political platform :- To foster and to promote national unity and harmony amongst the indigenous people of Sabah;
- To instill and promote mutual confidence and goodwill amongst the people of Sabah irrespective of race and religion;
- To safeguard and to protect the rightful position, rights and knowledge of the indigenous people of Sabah;
- To uphold and to promote the 5 principles of the Rukun Negara as National Philosophy.
- To safeguard and promote the traditional customs and cultures of the Indigenous people and to preserve the freedom of worship;
- To uphold and promote the principles of parliamentary and democratic form of government through harmony and consensus.
- To work with other political organizations with similar aims and objectives within Malaysia so as to uphold the healthy development of party politics.
History
PASOK was established in 1978 by G. S. Sundang, a traditional chief (bearing the title Orang Kaya Kaya) and former Deputy Chief Minister of the Sabah as a political vehicle for the KadazanKadazan
The Kadazans are an ethnic group indigenous to the state of Sabah in Malaysia. They are found mainly on the west coast of Sabah, the surrounding locales, and various locations in the interior. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Dusun ethnic group, and also because of other...
, Dusun
Dusun
Dusun is the collective name of a tribe or ethnic and linguistic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah of North Borneo. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Kadazan ethnic group, a new unified term called "Kadazan-Dusun" was created. Collectively, they form the largest ethnic group...
, and Murut people
Murut people
The Murut is the warrior tribe of indigenous ethnic groups inhabiting northern inland regions of Borneo. The Murut comprise several people groups that are scattered in parts of Borneo Island including Brunei, Kalimantan...
peoples. In 1985, PASOK joined the newly formed Sabah United Party in a coalition government after the latter won the 1985 state legislative elections
Sabah state election, 1985
The 1985 Sabah state election was held from April 20 to April 21, 1985 in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. This was the fifth state election to take place. Parti Bersatu Sabah won 25 out 48 seats contested, thus forming government with its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan being sworn in as Chief...
. PASOK won its only seat in the state legislature to date when the then party president, Ignatius Stephen Malanjum, won the Moyog state constituency .
Recent developments
PASOK was denied the opportunity to contest with its own name and symbol in the 2008 general electionsMalaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
due to an ongoing feud involving rival claimants to the party presidency . PASOK candidates that were originally slated to stand either chose to stand as independent candidates or dropped out from the elections.
On February 28, 2008, the Registrar of Societies issued a revocation of registration notice to PASOK citing the failure of the party to resolve their leadership crisis involving Cleftus Mojinggol, John Richard Jayasuria and Hendry Sabagang Rumpit who had all claimed the party's presidency. The party was then de-registered on May 27 although one of the claimants claimed that he had yet to received the notice from the Registrar and that the party leadership crisis had been solved following a delegate's conference that had elected new office bearers on May 23.
The party is still able to appeal against the decision to revoke the registration of the party within 30 days of the date of revocation and legal advice is being sought about this matter .
Prominent members
While not having had much electoral success, PASOK has seen many prominent members of Sabahan society go through its ranks :- G. S. Sundang
- Traditional Chief, founder of the United Pasok-Momogun Kadazan Organisation and Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah (1965-1967)
- Joseph Pairin KitinganJoseph Pairin KitinganTan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan , is a Malaysian politician and was the seventh Chief Minister of Sabah, a state in Malaysia. He held the post from April 1985 to March 1994. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development of Sabah and has...
- Huguan Siou (Paramount leader) of the Kadazandusun community, former Chief Minister of Sabah (1985-1994) and current Deputy Chief Minister and State Minister for Rural Development
- Wilfred BumburingWilfred BumburingDatuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing is a Malaysian politician. He is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Tuaran constituency in Sabah, representing the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.Abdul Rahman was elected to...
- Current Member of Parliament for TuaranTuaranTuaran is a town as well as a district located in West Coast Division, in the northwest of Sabah, East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Tuaran district has an area of 1,166 square kilometres and an estimated population of 94,100 in 2006. About half the population consists of ethnic Dusun, a third...
- James Vitalis
- Former Deputy Speaker of the Sabah State Assembly
- Patrick Sindu
- President of the Consumer Affairs Association for Sabah and Labuan