Billy Joe Dominic Reaffirms Commitment to Grassroots Leadership Reform

22 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Kapayan United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) candidate Billy Joe Dominic is known among his supporters as a leader who does not easily forget the promises he makes.

One of those commitments dates back to 10 December 2022, when a proposal from villagers to him as UPKO Penampang Youth Chief, called for elections to be reinstated for the JPKK (Village Community Management Councils) in Moyog.

Billy Joe has made it clear that the issue remains firmly on his agenda. Far from being a forgotten pledge, he emphasises that, should he win the Kapayan seat, he intends to revisit the proposal and work towards meaningful reform in village-level leadership structures.

The original call came after UPKO Penampang Youth highlighted the value of democratic selection within local community committees. At that time, a spokesperson told Nabalu News that the practice was not new.

“This was implemented previously. The JKKK elected by the village residents at the time was still able to work well with the local representative and government officials,” he said.

For Billy Joe, the principle behind the proposal remains relevant today: empowering local communities to choose their own grassroots leaders encourages accountability, improves cooperation, and strengthens trust between residents and their elected representatives.

He notes that village-level decision-making affects issues ranging from welfare distribution to the maintenance of community facilities, areas where transparency and public confidence are crucial.

“As leaders, we must never forget where reforms truly begin,” Billy Joe said recently. “Strong leadership starts at the grassroots. When the people choose their own JPKK representatives, they choose individuals who genuinely understand their daily struggles.”

With the upcoming election drawing closer, Billy Joe’s reaffirmation of this long-standing commitment reinforces his image as a candidate driven by continuity, integrity, and community empowerment. Supporters have described his consistency as a welcome contrast to “promise-and-forget” politics, and many believe his stance could renew dialogue on strengthening local governance mechanisms across Penampang and beyond.

Whether the initiative will return to the forefront of policy discussions depends partly on the outcome of the Kapayan contest, but for Billy Joe Dominic, the promise remains alive, and the mission is far from over.