TAN Sri Joseph Kurup enjoyed a political career spanning over three decades, navigating the turbulent waters of Sabah politics and carving out quite a legacy through Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
However, with his death, questions loom over the future of PBRS and its relevance in Malaysian politics.
Sabah political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang believes Kurup has made considerable effort to prepare his son, Datuk Arthur Kurup, to be a strong and effective leader to continue the survival of the party.
“Arthur's current performance and leadership capabilities stand as a testament to this upbringing.
“Through the guidance and mentorship given by his late father, Arthur has demonstrated the ability to navigate the complexities of leadership with adeptness and finesse,” he said.
Bagang said Arthur has acquired the skill sets and understanding of the party that have made him a formidable force and these gave a kind of assurance that PBRS will continue to thrive and progress.
Joseph handed the baton of leadership to Arthur in January 2023.
Despite his reserved demeanour, the late Joseph is remembered for his strides in Sabah’s political landscape where he had strategically maneuvered to cement his position as one of the state’s most pivotal leaders.
Joseph was among the crop of Sabah leaders who started out from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which had defeated the mighty Berjaya party in 1985.
It was an era that reflected the legendary unity of Sabah leaders and political strength that the present generation in the state continues to talk about and long for.
Another state political analyst Lee Kuok Tiung noted that PBRS, despite being a small party, has remained resilient amid shifting political dynamics.
Arthur’s leadership like his father’s also came with challenges.
The leader suffered a blow when one of its leaders left the party and state lawmaker Datuk Ellron Angin left the party during the state political upheavals in 2018.
Arthur was the party’s number two at the time.
Joseph’s leadership of PBRS started in 1994 after he defected from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
But the former Pensiangan MP continued to hold his grip on the party despite his position as president being challenged by leaders like Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and the late Datuk Bernard Maraat in the past.
“Although PBRS is basically a ‘family’ party, his son Arthur is a young leader with good calibre. Throughout these two terms (as lawmaker), it can be seen his unwavering dedication to serve his community,” said Lee of Arthur’s federal seat, Pensiangan.
Still, Lee believed PBRS being still part of Barisan Nasional could pose a significant challenge for Arthur perhaps due to the waning popularity of the coalition in Sabah.
Lee’s comment came in view of the popular political trend in Sabah for supporting local-based parties to relive the past political style of the state where it was administered by a single and local-based party.
The last party to have ruled over Sabah was PBS. – The Vibes, April 21, 2024
