No deadline set yet for nomination of candidates for PBB election

MIRI: The deadline for the nomination of candidates for the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) election during its coming triennial delegates convention (TDC) has not been finalised yet, the party's secretary-general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom disclosed.

He was met on Wednesday after the presentation of flood relief aid to 767 households who were affected by the recent flood in Ulu Niah and Ulu Suai.

“The election sub-committee will issue the nomination forms throughout the state when it is ready,” he said.

He added that emphasis on digital economy is expected to be the highlight of the convention together with social, political and economic issues.

Party president and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to officiate the PBB Youth and Wanita wings convention during the TDC on Feb 10, while Prime Minister and national BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to declare open the meeting for the main body the following day.

About 3,000 delegates and observers are expected to attend the convention, said Dr Rundi.

He disclosed that the supreme council had decided that there would be no contest for the post of president, two deputy presidents, Wanita and Youth leaders at the TDC.

Abang Johari, by virtue of being the Chief Minister, automatically assumes the post of party president in line with the party's constitution. He was the deputy president before the demise of his predecessor Pehin Sri Adenan Satem on January 11, 2016.

Senior vice-president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was appointed deputy president to replace Abang Johari.

Similarly, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who was vice-president, was elevated to deputy president when Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu relinquished the post.

Both are now deputy chief ministers.

Meanwhile, those in and outside the party are closely watching the next move by outgoing Youth leader and federal Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Many speculate that both are keen to fill the vacant senior vice-president post left by Awang Tengah but whether there would be a contest remains to be seen.

The contest for the three vice president and supreme council member posts in the party would be interesting as it would reveal the second echelon of leaders of the party.

The party election is the first since Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud stepped down as chief minister and party president in Feb 2014 when he handed over the reins to Adenan who decided to postpone the convention to a date after the state election in May 2016.

Adenan passed away on Jan 11 in 2017, after which Abang Johari took over as chief minister and party president.