United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation
Encyclopedia
The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) is a political party
based in Sabah
, east Malaysia. It is an ethnically-based party striving to voice the rights and advance the development of Kadazan-Dusun
and Murut
population of Sabah and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.
(PBS) soon after the Sabah state election, 1994
. Later it was renamed UPKO.
This new UPKO has no relation with the original United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation (also known by the acronym UPKO), which was created in May 1964 after being renamed from United Kadazan National Organisation (UNKO), originally founded by the first Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Fuad Stephens
in August 1961. It also has no relation with and the Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Bersatu (United Pasok Momogun Organisation), formed in January 1962 by Orang Kaya Datuk G. S. Sundang. It should also not be confused with another active political party called United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation, known as PASOK, founded by Richard Jayasuriya.
In 2009, the party opened four divisions in Perak
, Peninsular Malaysia. Here, the party aims to champion the rights of the Orang Asli.
(BN) coalition. The name of the new UPKO includes the words "Kadazandusun" and "Murut", and the logo is no longer a water buffalo but a silhouette
of Mount Kinabalu
. It is also believed by many political observers that the "Kadazandusun nationalism" which was apparent in the old UPKO is not really present in the new UPKO.
, UPKO, led by its Secretary-General Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, on September 23, 2008, joined its 3 other Barisan Nasional
(BN) counterparts MCA
, Gerakan
and MIC petitioning the Government review of the Internal Security Act
(ISA). Madius said the party supports former de-facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's position that the ISA should only be used against those who posed a threat to national security, such as terrorists: "Clearly in the case of Seputeh
MP, Teresa Kok
; blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin; and Sin Chew Daily reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, there are so many other public order laws that can be used against them if, at all, there is a case to do so."
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...
based in 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...
, east Malaysia. It is an ethnically-based party striving to voice the rights and advance the development of 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 :...
and Murut
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...
population of Sabah and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.
History
The party started as "Parti Demokrat Sabah" (PDS), which was founded by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and other leaders who branched out from Parti Bersatu SabahParti Bersatu Sabah
The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985...
(PBS) soon after the Sabah state election, 1994
Sabah state election, 1994
The 1994 Sabah state election was held in February that year in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The election was one of the most controversial election in Sabah's political history. The election was won by the opposition party Parti Bersatu Sabah , winning 25 state electorates against 23 won by the...
. Later it was renamed UPKO.
This new UPKO has no relation with the original United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation (also known by the acronym UPKO), which was created in May 1964 after being renamed from United Kadazan National Organisation (UNKO), originally founded by the first Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Fuad Stephens
Tun Fuad Stephens
Tun Haji Mohammad Fuad Stephens, previously known as, Donald Stephens, was the first Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He played a fundamental role in bringing the state of Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. He held the chief minister post until 1964, and again in 1976...
in August 1961. It also has no relation with and the Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Bersatu (United Pasok Momogun Organisation), formed in January 1962 by Orang Kaya Datuk G. S. Sundang. It should also not be confused with another active political party called United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation, known as PASOK, founded by Richard Jayasuriya.
In 2009, the party opened four divisions in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Peninsular Malaysia. Here, the party aims to champion the rights of the Orang Asli.
Status and platform
UPKO is one of the component parties in the ruling Barisan NasionalBarisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(BN) coalition. The name of the new UPKO includes the words "Kadazandusun" and "Murut", and the logo is no longer a water buffalo but a silhouette
Silhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
of Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
. It is also believed by many political observers that the "Kadazandusun nationalism" which was apparent in the old UPKO is not really present in the new UPKO.
ISA law
In Kota KinabaluKota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, UPKO, led by its Secretary-General Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, on September 23, 2008, joined its 3 other Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(BN) counterparts MCA
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
, Gerakan
Gerakan
Gerakan, meaning movement in Malay, can refer to:*the Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, a Malaysian political party*the Gerakan Pramuka Indonesian Scout movement...
and MIC petitioning the Government review of the Internal Security Act
Internal Security Act
The term Internal Security Act is often given to a piece of legislation laying down regulations that enable the executive government of a jurisdiction to preserve the internal security of the nation...
(ISA). Madius said the party supports former de-facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's position that the ISA should only be used against those who posed a threat to national security, such as terrorists: "Clearly in the case of Seputeh
Seputeh
Seputeh is an area and parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mid Valley Megamall, Malaysia's largest shopping complex is located here...
MP, Teresa Kok
Teresa Kok
Teresa Kok Suh Sim is a Malaysian Member of Parliament from the Democratic Action Party .-Background:Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, Teresa is a second-generation Malaysian of Chinese descent. Kok is a member of the Hakka dialect group and her ancestors were from Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China....
; blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin; and Sin Chew Daily reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, there are so many other public order laws that can be used against them if, at all, there is a case to do so."