KOTA KINABALU: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) gets a moral boost today with another veteran political leader, Dr Edwin Bosi, formerly DAP State Assemblyman for Kepayan and a vocal opposition leader, returning to the party as zone coordinator for West Coast region.
Dr Bosi told reporter that he met the ANAK NEGERI President, Datuk Henrynus Amin recently to discuss how he can help to rebuild and rebrand the party as a pressure opposition political party.
ANAK NEGERI according to him has very little resources at its disposal. So the party must rely on the mass media and mass communication to create awareness, mobilize supporters and make a political impact in politics.
Dr Bosi submitted his application form for membership last month and was accepted into ANAK NEGERI during the party’s Supreme Council on 31 July 2024 together with Dr Kanul Gindol, a local activist and former Berita Sabah Chief Editor and Bernama Sabah reporter, who also applied to become a member.
Dr Bosi who is a veterinarian by profession joined politics in early 1990s then as PKR Information Chief for Sabah.
He joined DAP in 2013 to contest the Kepayan seat which he won under DAP ticket.
However, due to an internal crisis Dr Bosi left DAP in 2017 to join ANAK NEGERI to give the party it’s first State Assemblyman in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly.
He contested Penampang Parliamentary seat under ANAK NEGERI in 2018 but lost to a stronger and more organized opponent.
Dr Bosi left Anak Negeri to contest the Kepayan seat under the PBS ticket in 2020 but again failed to win the seat, after which, he decided to take a break from active politics to concentrate on his business as a veterinarian.
However, Dr Bosi continued to closely observe and follow the political development of the state.
A chance meeting with Datuk Henrynus Amin together with ANAK NEGERI Deputy President, Mr Terence Tsen and Dr Kanul Gindol in one afternoon changed the trajectory of his political career.
According to Dr Bosi, he could feel the air of uncertainty permeating through the political landscape in Sabah.
“There are just too many unresolved issues. The lack of effective opposition voices to deal with these unresolved issues has rekindled my interest to return to active politics,” he said.
As a political leader, Dr Bosi was interested in the Keningau Oath Stones which he described as representing the original political aspirations and struggle of the indigenous people of Sabah, especially the Momogun people of the interior.
He said the Keningau Oath Stone which is an important piece of history signifies the Federal Government’s assurances to recognize, respect and preserve the unity, rights and dignity of the indigenous people of Sabah as envisioned by the late GS Sundang and his brother the late OKK Sodomon.”
However, he said, the Keningau Oath Stone was least understood, and today it is still an unfinished business.
Questions must be asked, he said, whether or not the three basic demands of the Keningau Oath Stone, have been fulfilled.
Dr Bosi said the three tenets of the Keningau Oath Stone are the freedom of religion, state sovereign rights on land.matters and the protection and preservation of the local culture, costumes and tradition.
He said Sabah needs a strong and effective opposition voice to keep issues alive, and to keep the ruling coalition government on their toes.
“ANAK NEGERI is the perfect political platform for me to speak up for the people without fear or favour,” said Dr Bosi.
He said knowing the party’s track record and the political vision of the party President who have been very vocal on local state and national issues, ANAK NEGERI can play the role of an effective opposition pressure political party.
He said, there is no doubt, by building the right team and creating a pool of talented aspiring young leaders, with realistic visions, goals and strategies, and the correct political alignment at state and national levels. ANAK NEGERI as a local Sabah based political party, has a huge potential.
