(The Star) - A senior Upko division leader who followed Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Bumburing out of the party has returned to the fold after the announcement of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

Tuaran Upko division treasurer Daukim Gilu said he is now convinced that the RCI announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Aug 11 was a positive step towards resolving the illegal immigrant problem.

“I have no more motivation to continue promoting the so-called Sabah Reform Movement (led by Bumburing),” he said, adding that he had joined the movement because of delays in the setting up of the RCI.

“I am happy with the composition of the RCI panel in terms of calibre and integrity. I am confident the RCI will meet its objectives to resolve the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah,” he said.

Daukim said he was happy that Upko together with other Barisan components would be submitting their views on the issue of illegal immigrants and the extraordinary rise in Sabah’s population blamed on the issuance of identity cards.

“I have therefore decided to continue my political struggle through Upko and Barisan and fully support the party leadership of Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Tuaran division chief Datuk Wilfred Tangau,” he said.

Bumburing quit Upko to launch a self-styled Sabah Reform Movement on July 29, a day after Umno’s Beaufort MP Datuk Lajim Ukin also launched a similar but different movement called Sabah Alliance for Change.

Bumburing and Lajim are aligned with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.