KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary general Datuk Henrynus Amin has strongly indicated that he might challenge incumbent deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili in the party election on Oct 23.
However, he said he would first meet with divisional leaders and delegates before making a final decision in the possible showdown with Ongkili, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister for the deputy president’s post (under the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota).
“I have received 20 nominations qualified to contest for the PBS deputy president post. We have until Oct 8 to accept the nomination. I will make the announcement in due course,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
Yesterday, PBS election committee chairman Datuk Johnny Mositun confirmed that Ongkili who has received 32 nominations and had won uncontested in the last party election was being challenged by Henrynus who has garnered nominations from 20 divisions.
Henrynus said should he decide to accept the nomination, it would be in response to the grassroots’ call for party renewal and transformation.
“We hope to rebuild PBS, restore public support and regain constituencies lost to the opposition,” he said.
He agreed with the party’s direction towards “meremajakan kepimpinan” (revitalising the leadership), saying there was a need to bring in young blood into PBS to rejuvenate the party.
“However, we feel that Tan Sri President (Pairin) should stay for the time being for as long as may be necessary,” he said, of Mositun’s announcement that Deputy Chief Minister and party founder Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had been returned unopposed as party president after nominations closed on Monday. — Bernama