Former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred Bumburing and his supporters may derail plans for a merger between his United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) if he is not made one of two deputy presidents under the proposed merger of the two parties.

Bumburing is deputy to Upko president Bernard Dompok, now a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

PBRS is led by another former Deputy Chief Minister, Joseph Kurup, who narrowly won a state seat by a 300-vote margin against maverick politician Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in the March general election.

Under the proposed Upko-PBRS line-up, Bumburing is said to be slated for the secretary-general's post .

But his supporters,especially in the Tamparuli division which he heads and in Tuaran, have insisted that he should be made a deputy president.

Kurup, meanwhile, is said to have demanded only one deputy president in the merged entity.

Bumburing was not immediately available for comment, with family members saying he had been admitted to hospital.

Dompok had recently confirmed that merger talks between the two parties were in progress.

However, a political writer based in Kota Kinabalu said he believed the proposal has been "more or less finalised".

Growing influence

The proposed merger is seen as a move by Upko and PBRS leaders, most of whom were pioneers of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), to counteract the latter's growing influence among the Kadazandusun community.

Upko has nine elected representatives (five state and four parliamentary seats) and PBRS holds one state and one parliamentary seat.

However, even their combined electoral strength is no match for PBS which, since rejoining Barisan Nasional, has enjoyed close rapport with Umno Sabah liaison chief and Chief Minister Musa Aman and other Umno leaders.

PBS also has good relations with the Liberal Democratic Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat.

PBS leader and Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan still commands a lot of respect in his Kadazandusun community and in the state government. His close working relationship with Umno means he can get things done for rural communities.

Against this background, political observers are not surprised that the smaller Kadazandusun-based parties are considering a merger, as the alternative could mean they are eventually eclipsed in Sabah politics.

"They have to do something if they want to continue to play an active role in Sabah politics," one observer said in relation to the leaders of the two parties.

Meanwhile, Upko Kuala Penyu division head Wences Angang, addressing the division's annual general meeting yesterday, said it would support the merger in the party's long-term interests.

Wences, who lost to Independent candidate John Ghani - a former Umno member - in the Kuala Penyu state seat during the general election, said the proposal was still at the discussion stage.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.