He was also the father of Arthur Joseph Kurup, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Pensiangan MP and PBRS President.

In the 1985 election he won the seat of Sook in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, and the PBS, led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, toppled the BN government.

[4][5] He was elected unopposed after the People's Justice Party (PKR) candidate had been unable to submit his nomination on time.

He also noted that the current political scene was moving towards to the youth but it was also important that veterans leaders not to be sidelined.

On the issues of illegal immigrant of Sabah, he urged the federal government to intervene and help mitigate the rising cost of living woes faced by the people in Sabah and disagreed that the proposed special card for foreigners could solve the long-standing issue.