Dublin Unting Ingot, aged 56, passed away at 1.30 a.m. this morning, leaving behind his wife, Florin and their three children, the youngest of them is 4 years old.
Unting, a young agriculture officer, was brought by Tan Sri Leo Moggie, then president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) into politics to contest in the 1991 State election against Mikai Mandau of BN-PBB. Unting won with a majority of 83 votes.
Mikai, who was the incumbent, was a PBDS man; he defected from the party to PBB in 1987 soon after winning the seat. His defection opened the way for Unting to contest.
In the 1996 State election, Unting contested the seat on a BN-PBDS ticket and won with a majority of 2,555 votes. In 2001, he won the seat uncontested.
However, he faced a strong challenge from Nicholas Bawin in the 2006 State election. This time around, he contested on a BN-PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) against Bawin, a Malaysian Dayak Congress/SNAP candidate, and won with a reduced majority. He polled 3,295 votes as against 2,489 votes secured by Bawin.
Unting could have lost the seat, if only Bawin had got the money to sustain his campaign and cover the ‘ulu’ and remote parts of the constituency.
Soon after he joined PBDS, Dublin’s quality as a leader was noticed by the party leadership. After the 1997 TDC, he was appointed as Secretary General of the party. When PBDS rejoined the BN State government 1996, he was appointed an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s office.
Later he was appointed Assistant Minister of Modernization of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Tourism. In a cabinet reshuffle in July 2004, he was appointed as Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Sports. And he retained the post after the 2006 State election.
Dublin played an important role in the 2003 PBDS leadership crisis, helping Dr. James Massing to challenge Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem for the top post of the party. Although Tajem and his men won the leadership of the party, Masing, Unting and Sng Chee Hua disputed it and lodged a complaint to the Registrar of Societies. The protracted leadership crisis led to the deregistration of PBDS in October 2004 and at the same time gave birth to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
While Masing became PRS president, Unting was elected as vice president of the party. His loss will be greatly felt by PRS leaders and members as well as his supporters of Batang Ai Constituency. His body has been brought to his house at Stutong, BDC. Funeral has been arranged to take place on Thursday, 26 February 2009. – The Broken Shield
Unting, a young agriculture officer, was brought by Tan Sri Leo Moggie, then president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) into politics to contest in the 1991 State election against Mikai Mandau of BN-PBB. Unting won with a majority of 83 votes.
Mikai, who was the incumbent, was a PBDS man; he defected from the party to PBB in 1987 soon after winning the seat. His defection opened the way for Unting to contest.
In the 1996 State election, Unting contested the seat on a BN-PBDS ticket and won with a majority of 2,555 votes. In 2001, he won the seat uncontested.
However, he faced a strong challenge from Nicholas Bawin in the 2006 State election. This time around, he contested on a BN-PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) against Bawin, a Malaysian Dayak Congress/SNAP candidate, and won with a reduced majority. He polled 3,295 votes as against 2,489 votes secured by Bawin.
Unting could have lost the seat, if only Bawin had got the money to sustain his campaign and cover the ‘ulu’ and remote parts of the constituency.
Soon after he joined PBDS, Dublin’s quality as a leader was noticed by the party leadership. After the 1997 TDC, he was appointed as Secretary General of the party. When PBDS rejoined the BN State government 1996, he was appointed an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s office.
Later he was appointed Assistant Minister of Modernization of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Tourism. In a cabinet reshuffle in July 2004, he was appointed as Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Assistant Minister of Sports. And he retained the post after the 2006 State election.
Dublin played an important role in the 2003 PBDS leadership crisis, helping Dr. James Massing to challenge Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem for the top post of the party. Although Tajem and his men won the leadership of the party, Masing, Unting and Sng Chee Hua disputed it and lodged a complaint to the Registrar of Societies. The protracted leadership crisis led to the deregistration of PBDS in October 2004 and at the same time gave birth to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
While Masing became PRS president, Unting was elected as vice president of the party. His loss will be greatly felt by PRS leaders and members as well as his supporters of Batang Ai Constituency. His body has been brought to his house at Stutong, BDC. Funeral has been arranged to take place on Thursday, 26 February 2009. – The Broken Shield
3 comments:
I was told Nicholas Bawin is preparing to print his election poster in anticipation of the by-election. State PKR held an emergency meeting this morning confirming that N.Bawin is thier candidate.Who will BN going to nominate?
Dom, led Mr. Unting rest in peace first.
Mr. Tawie might know him personally.
great analysis
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