United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) deputy president Wilfred Bumburing wants the party congress to decide on a proposal to ensure that he is given a deputy president's post when Upko merges with Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

About 600 delegates and observers from 40 branches will attend the congress in Kota Kinabalu on Oct 10 to formally endorse the merger of the two Kadazandusun-based parties, into Upko-Bersatu.

Bumburing, told malaysiakini today that since the Tamparuli division - where he has a large support base - has made the proposal , then "logically, the matter should be discussed at a higher level".

Upko is led by Bernard Dompok, a former Chief Minister who is now Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, and PBRS is headed by former state minister Joseph Kurup ( photo ).

Bumburing said he was not aware of a move to make him secretary-general of the merged party, and that he would only respond if this is made official.

Given the uncertainty, there is much speculation as to who will hold which post when the proposed merger takes place. One school of thought is that Bumburing may end up with neither a deputy president's post, not that of secretary-general.

Dompok commands more than enough support from delegates to push the merger proposal through PBRS, but the question is whether he would want to risk alienating Bumburing who still commands some grassroots support.

Bumburing said he was fully behind the merger because this would be in the best interests of the Kadazandusun community in the long run.

As to whether he sees he merger leading to inclusion of Parti Bersatu Sabah, he said this may not be possible because the party has taken the position that it is a multi-racial party.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini''s Sarawak-based stringer.