Pairin appointed PBS permanent presidential advisor

KOTA KINABALU: Delegates at Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) 33rd annual congress passed a resolution appointing its founder and outgoing president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan as Permanent Presidential Advisor.

Tabled by its information chief Datuk Jahid Jahim, the role for Pairin would be to guide and support PBS’ supreme council, party leaders and members.

Jahid, when tabling the motion yesterday, pointed out that Pairin as PBS founder, had led the party since its inception 33 years ago and started championing the rights of Sabah and its people since then.

“Even when faced with the risk of being detained under the then ISA, safety risk and various obstacles as well as challenges, Tan Sri Pairin had soldiered on without fear in fighting for Sabah’s rights, especially on Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“In the past, if we spoke about MA63, we would end up in jail like Datuk Dr Maximus (Ongkili) but as a result of Pairin’s consistency in championing the matter, it is now a general topic among the new generation of Sabahans who will fight to ensure that what is enshrined in MA63 will be fulfilled by the federal government,” said the Tamparuli assemblyman.

As the Permanent Presidential Advisor, Pairin will also chair PBS’ Council of Elders to build, improve and offer suggestions to the party leadership.

During the opening of the congress on Nov 15, Maximus said even though Pairin was no longer at the helm, he would not be leaving it and in his role as Permanent Presidential Advisor, would be alongside them all the time.

“He will give us access to his wealth of experience and will be there to advise as well as guide us. While he may think that it is over as far as leading the party (is concerned), we will seek his advice and guidance and (when) we face challenges.

“Because of his support and contribution to the party, we are still here with him. We have benefited from his school of politics and we promise him that we will do the best we can to continue the party and use the experiences and mistakes of the past to make sure the party grows in strength,” he said.

Pairin told reporters that while it was good to play the advisory role, he wanted the new PBS leadership to be proactive and look ahead.

“I want them to think and look ahead so they must be busy preparing for the future.

“If they seek my view I will give but I am banking on them to come up with innovative approaches so that the party improves, the machinery improves, the preparation is intensified early,” he said.