Maximus Ongkili

1994

Joan Maluda

​

(died 2018)​

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili SPDK SSAP DGSM
Chairman of the Energy Commission of Sabah
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2023		Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister
Relations	James Peter Ongkili (brother) Joseph Pairin Kitingan (uncle) Jeffrey Kitingan (uncle)
Children	Rachel Jane Ongkili Andreas Jordan Ongkili
Alma mater	La Trobe University
Occupation	Politician
Website	www.mpkotamarudu.my

Maximus Johnity Ongkili (born 26 October 1953) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Chairman of the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECOS) since February 2023. ^[1] He served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022, the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to August 2021 as well as for National Unity and Integration in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from March 2004 to March 2008 and the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water in the BN administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak from May 2013 to May 2018, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Marudu from March 2004 to November 2022 and for Bandau from April 1995 to March 2004. He is the 2nd President and a member of the United Sabah Party (PBS), a component party of the Sabah People's Alliance (GRS). ^[2]

Personal life

Ongkili was born on 26 October 1953 in Kota Kinabalu to parents from the district of Tambunan, namely a police officer, Alexius @ Alexander Ongkili Indoh, Snr. (1910–1991) from Kampung Lintuhun who was then reassigned to the Sabah police contingent headquarters of the Royal Malaysia Police (then known as the North Borneo Constabulary), but later acquired land and settled in Keningau (in the village of Kampung Ria/Lingkudau) after his retirement from the police force and a housewife, Battindoi Kondilab Komboon (1915–1986), a native of Kampung Karanaan.

He is married with two children (currently widowed since 2018 and has since remarried as of 2023) and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics, conferred by Australia's La Trobe University. ^[3] He is a Christian belonging to the Borneo Evangelical Church (but formerly a Roman Catholic from birth until his adulthood, when he was deemed to be born again by converting to Protestantism via the said denomination). ^[4] Ongkili is also the nephew of former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Jeffrey Kitingan, who is the President of the Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR).

Political career

In the Opposition

Ongkili was originally an opposition politician but joined the government when the PBS joined the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in 2002.

In 1991, he was imprisoned under the Internal Security Act for 59 days. ^[5] This was part of political arrests carried out between 1990 and 1991 to crack down on opposition leaders in Sabah, Malaysia, and their alleged plans to secede the state from Malaysia, allegedly known as Operation Talkak. Seven men were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). (See also 1991 Sabah political arrests).

At the time of his arrest on 3 January 1991, Ongkili was a senior researcher and deputy chief director of IDS and electoral press consultant to the-then Chief Minister of Sabah who is also his maternal uncle cum fellow kinsfolk from Tambunan, Joseph Pairin Kitingan during the 1990 Sabah state and national elections. He was released unconditionally on 2 March.

In the Government

Ongkili entered Parliament in the 1995 general election (at the time, the Kota Marudu seat was named Bandau). He was appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department after the 2004 election ^[6] by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Ongkili was placed in charge of National Unity, and headed the initiation of the Khidmat Negara conscription program.

Ongkili was also a member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly until the 2008 election, when he stood aside from his Tandek seat. ^[7]

In 2008, Ongkili became the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Then, after his victory in the 2013 general elections, Ongkili has been appointed Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister. ^[8]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia ^{[9] [10]}

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1995	P147 Bandau		Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	10,716	64.06%		Jeffrey Kitingan (AKAR)	5,851	34.98%	16,927	4,865	69.72%
							Conrad Jomilon Mojuntin (IND)	162	0.97%
1999			Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	8,465	51.38%		Maijol Mahap (UPKO)	6,781	41.16%	16,678	1,684	65.66%
							Conrad Jomilon Mojuntin (IND)	162	0.97%
2004	P168 Kota Marudu		Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	10,457	59.00%		Anthony Biri Mandiau (IND)	7,268	41.00%	18,626	3,189	66.26%
2008			Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	12,028	56.14%		Anthony Biri Mandiau (PKR)	7,830	36.55%	22,172	4,198	69.51%
							Roslan Mohd Zain (IND)	1,109	5.18%
							Berman Angkap (BERSEKUTU)	457	2.13%
2013			Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	15,168	47.16%		Maijol Mahap (PKR)	14,326	44.53%	33,077	842	78.50%
							Majamis Timbong (STAR)	2,228	6.93%
							Yuntau K. Kolod (SAPP)	444	1.38%
2018			Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	13,033	38.44%		Maijol Mahap (PHRS)	11,259	33.21%	35,085	1,774	74.95%
							Barlus Mangabis (WARISAN)	7,113	20.98%
							Paul Porodong (PCS)	2,501	7.37%
2022			Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	16,144	32.32%		Wetrom Bahanda (KDM)	24,318	48.69%	49,946	8,174	61.86%
							Jilid Kuminding (WARISAN)	5,320	10.65%
							Shahrizal Denci (MUDA)	3,225	6.46%
							Norman Tulang (Independent)	660	1.32%
							Mohd Azmi Zulkiflee (PEJUANG)	279	0.56%

Sabah State Legislative Assembly ^[11]

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1994	N06 Langkon		Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	4,171	73.47%		Newman Gaban (PBRS)	1,452	25.58%	5,727	2,719	74.60%
							Linggu Lincoln Luwing (IND)	54	0.95%
1999	N05 Tandek		Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	5,671	53.77%		Saibul Supi (UPKO)	4,412	41.84%	10,677	1,259	77.09%
							Joe Santi (BERSEKUTU)	463	4.39%
2004	N05 Tandek		Maximus Ongkili (PBS)	5,069	53.96%		George Sangkin (IND)	2,356	25.08%	9,840	2,713	67.78%
							Anthony Biri Mandiau (IND)	692	7.37%
							Shahnuar Bodok (IND)	685	7.29%
							Abdul Kahar Abdul Rahman (keADILan)	592	6.30%

Honours

•   Sabah  :
  • Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2001)
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2011) ^[12]
•   Malacca  :
  • Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2009) ^[13]
•   Pahang  :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2017)

References

1. "Hajiji continues to strengthen GRS govt with appointments of political leaders". The Star. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
2. "Pairin Moves Aside After 31 Years Ongkili Is Acting President Of PBS". The Borneo Post. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
3. "The Honourable Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, JP". Kota Marudu Member of Parliament. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
4. "Sabah Christians annoyed over Christian Minister's remarks". UCA News. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
5. Jane Ritikos (31 March 2004). "Ongkili gets his reward". The Star . Retrieved 27 May 2010.
6. "A big honour for me, says Max". Bernama . Daily Express. 28 March 2004. Archived from the original on 16 August 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
7. "PBS Retains Old Guards, Introduces Two New Faces". Bernama. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
8. "Ongkili To Lead Malaysian Delegation To ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting". Bernama. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
9. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia . Retrieved 18 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
10. "Sabah [Parliament Results]". The Star. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
11. "N32 Tambunan". Malaysiakini . Retrieved 30 May 2020.
12. "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Sabah Tahun 2011" (PDF). www.sabah.gov.my.
13. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.