Uggah (third left) having conversation with Dr Rundi (left) and PBB executive secretary Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek (second left) at BCCK yesterday. Also seen are Dato Peter Minos (second right), who has been tasked with publicity for the convention, and other PBB leaders.
KUCHING: The top leadership and members of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) have unanimously agreed for the top posts in the party not to be contested as its main focus now is to develop Sarawak into a high income state by 2030, said its deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
“Our focus is to find ways and means on how to develop Sarawak especially for the Bumiputeras to achieve high income economy by 2030. In this regard, we will focus on how to eradicate poverty, improving our infrastructure and education.
“So that’s why party members recognised the culture of unity and respecting decisions from the leaders. This is the culture that we have inherited all these while. And that’s why we have continued to grow from strength to strength to such an extent that other parties are envious of us,” Uggah told the media after chairing PBB’s convention sub-committee meeting at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, pointed out that the unanimous decision by party members and leaders reflected the deep democratic culture in the party to ensure that it would remain strong and united.
“The party will rally behind the Chief Minister in his vision to develop Sarawak through digital economy. That’s why our theme for this convention ‘Mentranformasi Sarawak Melalui Ekonomi Digital’ (Transforming Sarawak through Digital Economy) will highlight our vision to further develop Sarawak,” he said.
Meanwhile, PBB outgoing secretary-general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom stressed that even though there is no contest for the top posts in the party, there is still a contest for the four posts as vice-president in the Bumiputera Wing.
“It’s going to be a very friendly contest among the seven candidates. After all, we are all friends in the party,” he said, adding that the losers will be accommodated with appointed posts in the party.
The seven candidates vying for the vice president posts are Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Datu Len Talif Salleh, Dr Annuar Rafaee, Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
On his reason not to contest for the senior-vice president’s post for the Pesaka Wing, Dr Rundi, who is also the Minister of Utilities, revealed that it was the understanding in the party to let Dato Sri Michael Manyin take over the post from Uggah, who has won the deputy president’s post uncontested.
“We have come to an understanding that we give it to Dato Sri Michael Manyin, who is a senior leader in the party. There is no hurry for everyone else. And thus I hope that the team spirit will continue to prevail in the party,” added Dr Rundi.