Bisaya association to hold election Dec 18

KOTA KINABALU: Persatuan Bisaya Bersatu Sabah (PBBS) will be holding its election for the 2021-2024 term of office bearers during its annual delegates congress at the Persatuan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Bisaya building in Beaufort on December 18.

Election Committee chairman Dr Hajah Siti Aidah Lukin said 1,400 delegates from 227 branches including life members will be voting for who they want to lead the association for the new three year term.

Dr Aidah said the term for the 30th delegates congress is “Misapol Tokou Sumingkot” which means working together towards progress.

She added that campaigning for the election was more in the ‘family spirit’ and advised the candidates not to blow up political and personal issues that could lead to divisions.

“Their candidacy can be revoked if it is proven that there are candidates or their supporters who deliberately made extreme provocation,” she said.

The top post is contested by Ruslan Muharam, who is Lumadan assemblyman and his Klias counterpart Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, who is also Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister.

Ruslan was acting president for the association after the passing of its incumbent president, the late Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin.

There are four nominations for the deputy president’s post, 16 nominations for the vice president’s posts and 94 candidates are vying to fill in the Supreme council members’ posts.

Other than Ruslan and Isnin, all eyes are also on two other popular Bisaya leaders who are expected to dominate the votes casted, namely Jais Asri and Datuk Siti Aminah Aching.

Jais is the state Welfare Department director while Siti Aminah is Umno Beaufort division’s deputy chief.

Jais is facing competition from Abdullah Okin, Awang Anak Abdul Sani and Jamaludin Musleh for the deputy president post.

Siti Aminah, who is the Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Ministry’s political secretary is vying for one of the five vice presidents’ posts and faces competition from 15 other candidates.

Among them are Dewan Usahasama dan Perniagaan Bisaya Sabah (DUBISA) president Ahmad Barawi Mokhtar. The other nominees are Wahab Mohd Jali, Ghanilin Hasim, Gapar Jidin, Ibrahim Salim, Osman Pudin, Yunus Abdul Rajah, Bibiyani Abdul Adis, Mohd Said Awang Damit, Risim Aham, Mohd Azman Lajim, Abdul Jarih Okin, Jaludin Kadir, Matdin Sangar and Sahlih Sirin.