PENAMPANG: Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan was returned unopposed as president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) after nominations closed on Monday, announced PBS election committee chairman, Datuk Johnny Mositun.
He said Pairin, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, received nominations from all the 57 PBS divisions indicating the continued confidence in him to lead the party.
However, all eyes would be on the three deputy president posts, as this time around all the incumbents are being challenged, Mositun told a press conference at the party headquarters in Donggongon here yesterday.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is the incumbent deputy president under the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota is being challenged by secretary general, Datuk Henrynus Amin.
Having won the post uncontested in the previous party election, this time around, Dr Maximus received 32 nominations while Henrynus received nominations from 20 divisions.
For the Muslim Bumiputera quota, three people were qualified to contest, namely, incumbent deputy president, Datuk Almudin Kaida with 17 nominations, Wanita chief, Senator Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman with 26 nominations and Rakam Sijim with seven nominations.
The deputy president post under the Chinese quota would also see a contest with three candidates receiving sufficient nominations, namely, incumbent Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai (33), Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah (17) and Datuk Thien Fui Yun (3).
Mositun said the Youth chief post would also be contested as nominations had been received for incumbent Datuk Jahid Jahim (45) and Datuk Jikulin Nointin @ Jack (3).
As for the Wanita chief post, four people were qualified to contest with incumbent Jamilah getting 16 nominations, Tandek assemblywoman, Anita Baranting (21), Datin Dr Lungkiam Dambul Dumaring (4) and Sabini Ansumor (8).
Nominations have also been received for all the vice president posts for the three quotas.
Nonetheless, nominees would be given a one-week cooling off period and the final list of candidates would be known by October 8, he said.
Mositun said the Youth and Wanita election would be held on October 21 while the main elections would be held on October 23. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to open the PBS congress on October 22 at KDCA Hongkod Koisaan.