Asfia: Strength of state BN backbone party derives from spirit of consensus, compromise among members
Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar
KUCHING: The consensus among Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) members not to contest the party’s top three posts as well as those in its youth and women’s wings in its upcoming convention signifies the high level of discipline in the party.
Representatives of all 82 PBB branches have decided unanimously that they vote for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to remain as PBB president; and deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to remain as PBB deputy presidents.
“This shows PBB is a very highly disciplined party,” State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, who is also PBB permanent chairman, told reporters at PBB headquarters here yesterday after announcing the nomination results of top party posts for the upcoming convention.
For the posts of senior vice-presidents (VPs), outgoing PBB Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is Federal Works Minister, received unanimous nomination for the party’s Bumiputera wing; while Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin received unanimous nomination for the same post he is holding in PBBB, which is the VP from the Pesaka wing.
According to Asfia, the only contested posts would be for the four VP posts in the Bumiputera wing, where seven candidates would have to fight it out in the convention.
It is learnt that the seven candidates vying for the Bumiputera VP posts are Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Datu Len Talif Salleh, Dr Annuar Rapaee and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
Asfia said as there are only four Bumiputera VP posts in PBB, the party president would find suitable appointments for the candidates who lost.
He added that PBB had always catered for minority groups in the state, where certain constituencies were created solely for a particular ethnic group who otherwise, would not have a voice at the Assembly.
“The philosophy is allowing various ethnic groups to have voices in the party (PBB) – therein lies the strength of the party,” he said.
On the post of secretary-general left vacant due to the unanimous nomination of incumbent Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi for one of the three Pesaka VP posts, Asfia reiterated that the post (secretary-gen) would be reserved for a member from the Pesaka wing.
Asfia (seated third right) with his election committee members. He is flanked by Fatimah Abdullah and Rentap.
“This is an understanding from the beginning – the secretary-general post is for the Pesaka wing. No matter how competent, no one from the Bumiputera wing would be permitted to lobby for this post, because it’s a Pesaka quota,” he said.
The other two PBB members up to become Pesaka VPs are the Deputy DUN Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala and Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
There were also unanimous nominations for 16 Bumiputera and 14 Pesaka wing members for supreme council line-up.
The 16 Bumiputera nominees are Dato Ahmad Ibrahim, Datuk Ahmad Lai Bujang, Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, Abdul Yakup Arbi, Mohammad Razi Sitam, Razaili Gapor, Awla Dris, Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Yussibnosh Balo, Simoi Peri, Ripin Lamat, Zainulabidin Ismail, Buang Bolhassan, Pandi Suhaili, Awangku Jinal Abedin Pengiran Jawa and Hider Khan Asghar Khan.
As for PBB supreme council members from the Pesaka wing, they are Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit, Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan, John Ilus, Jefferson Jamit Unyat, Dennis Ngau, Dato Robert Laing Anyie, Daniel Jubang, Mikai Mandau, Japar Labaw, Richard Tawan Sedu, Michael Mujah Lihan, Paulus Dandee Banyang, Asiang Gihep and John Nyigor.