Abdul Ghapur Salleh Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Panglima
Abdul Ghapur Salleh
Honorific-Suffix:SPDK PGDK
Birth Date:21 March 1943
Birth Place:Japanese-occupied British Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia)
Death Place:Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Constituency Mp:Kalabakan
Parliament:Malaysian
Term Start:21 March 2004
Term End:9 May 2018
Majority1:Walkover (2004)
Walkover (2008)
14,221 (2013)
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:Ma'mun Sulaiman (WARISAN)
Party:Sabah People's United Front (BERJAYA)
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(–2022)
Otherparty:Barisan Nasional (BN)
(–2022)
Occupation:Politician
Native Name:Malay: {{Script|Arab|عبدالغڤور صالح

Abdul Ghapur bin Salleh (21 March 1943 – 4 July 2023) was a Malaysian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kalabakan from March 2004 to May 2018. He was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.[1]

Before entering federal politics, Abdul Ghapur was active in Sabah state politics, initially as a member of the Sabah People's United Front (commonly known as BERJAYA). He joined UMNO when it moved into the state in the early 1990s and was a Deputy Chief Minister in the Barisan Nasional state government between 1995 and 1997.[2]

Political career

Abdul Ghapur was elected unopposed to federal Parliament in 2004, for the newly created seat of Kalabakan on the border between Malaysia and Indonesia in East Sabah.[3] In 2008, after his re-election (again unopposed), he was appointed a Deputy Minister for Resources and Natural Environment by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, only to resign eight days later.[4] Later that year he openly criticised the BN government in Parliament for overlooking the needs of Sabah and Sarawak states, which had voted resoundingly in favour of BN in the 2008 election.[5] He again spoke out against the federal government for what he considered to be its slow response to the invasion of part of eastern Sabah by Filipino militants in 2013. At the same time, he criticised UMNO's internal election process as being open to corruption, claiming that "people will do anything just to get on the Supreme Council even if it’s very expensive".[6]

Death

Abdul Ghapur died from kidney failure on 4 July 2023, at the age of 80.[7]

Election results

Year!
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnover
2004P191 Kalabakan, Sabah (UMNO)
2008 (UMNO)
2013 (UMNO)23,12565.87%Usman Madeaming (PAS)8,90425.36%36,23014,22177.43%
Mohd Manuke (IND)1,3133.74%
Siamsir Borhan (IND)8912.54%
Malvine Reyes (STAR)6031.72%
Freddie Japat Simol (IND)1370.39%
Yahya Zainal (IND)1320.38%
2018 (UMNO)15,29941.15% (WARISAN)18,48650.09%38,0413,18772.88%
Norbin Aloh (PAS)2,8137.62%
bgcolor= Ahmad Lahama (PPRS)3110.84%

Honours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abdul Ghapur bin Salleh, Y.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Haji. Parliament of Malaysia. Malay. 4 April 2010.
  2. Web site: I won't jump party, says Ghapur. Muguntan Vanar. The Star. 27 March 2008. 10 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri. Election Commission of Malaysia. 18 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
  4. Web site: Ghapur quits deputy minister post. Muguntan Vanar. Ruben Sario. The Star. 27 March 2008. 4 April 2010.
  5. Web site: Day Ghapur caused stir in Dewan with mention of Keadilan. Daily Express (Malaysia). 17 May 2008. 4 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110621233029/http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57601. 21 June 2011. dead.
  6. Web site: Q&A with Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh. Rashvinjeet S. Bedi. The Star. 8 July 2013. 10 November 2014.
  7. News: Former Sabah deputy CM Abdul Ghapur Salleh passes away . 4 July 2023 . The Star . 4 July 2023.
  8. Web site: Sabah's Yang Di-Pertua Negri birthday honours list. 19 September 2005. 14 September 2018. The Star.