PBS to field six new faces
KOTA KINABALU: Six new faces will battle along with 12 Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) veterans in the 14th general election (GE14).
For the parliamentary seats, PBS vice president and Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili’s former political secretary Datuk Daniel Kinsik, 59, has been given the tall task of defending Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s Keningau seat.
Meanwhile, medical doctor Dr Joseph Lee, a 46-year-old owner of a clinical practice, has been tasked to wrest the urban Kota Kinabalu seat from the DAP.
For state seats, PBS Exco Women Wing and former Community Development Officer Julita Majungki, 47, has been fielded at Matunggong, the seat that the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister had requested PBS to lend to UMNO for GE14.
She will join three other PBS veteran women candidates, the party’s Supreme Council member and Batu Sapi incumbent Datuk Tsen Thau Lin @ Linda, 61, Supreme Council member and Tawau incumbent Datuk Yap Kian Ching @ Mary, 67, as well as Women chief and former Tandek assemblywoman Datuk Anita Baranting, 63.
PBS Supreme Council member and lawyer Peter Jino Allion, 62, will make his debut at Bingkor, originally an UPKO seat that had been swapped strategically with PBS’ Kadamaian seat for GE14.
Former Community Development officer and businessman Abdul Rahman Datuk Haji Kongkawang, 54, will be fielded in Labuk, whilst the youngest and new PBS candidate Loh Su Fui, 37-year- old businessman and Lawdegree holder, will battle in Sri Tanjong.
As the oldest GE14 candidate in Sabah, PBS president Pairin, 77, will defend the Tambunan state seat for the oldest state party, whilst PBS deputy president, who is carrying out the duties of the party’s president, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili, 64, will defend the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat.
Incumbents Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, 56, former Sabah Tourism Board Chairman and PBS Supreme Council Member, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, 62, PBS Vice President, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, 60, PBS Supreme Council Member, Datuk Seri Panglima Radin Malleh, 67, PBS Vice President, will defend the Kiulu, Tanjung Aru, Kundasang, and Melalap seats respectively.
PBS will also field PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, 62, PBS information chief Datuk Jahid Jahim, 58, and former Inanam assemblyman Datuk Johnny Goh, 61, again for the Api Api, Tamparuli and Inanam seats respectively.