Abang Johari says PBB to field a few new candidates in next general election
Abang Johari (seated centre) addresses the press conference flanked by Uggah (second left) and Awang Tengah. – Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: A few new faces can be expected from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) during the next parliamentary election.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is PBB president, said “there are a few” incumbents who had indicated they would not seek re-election.
“A few of them have indicated that they want to step down because it is also a culture of PBB to groom members,” he told a news conference after chairing the PBB supreme council meeting yesterday.
Abang Johari, who is also state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas – who is Betong Member of Parliament – was among those who had indicated they would make way for new candidates.
When asked whether PBB had submitted its list of candidates to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak – who is BN national chairman – Abang Johari replied, “we are still assessing”.
He said PBB “is also preparing its election machinery” as the election could be “called any time”.
PBB contested in and won 14 seats during the 2013 parliamentary election.
There are 31 parliamentary constituencies in the state.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said the meeting also decided to set up a committee jointly headed by Uggah and another Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, both acting PBB deputy presidents, for the party’s triennial general meeting (TGM).
He said the committee would decide on the date and venue for the TGM.
“The TGM will be called early next year, and before that all PBB branches will have their respective meetings before end of this year,” added Abang Johari.
He said the meeting also touched on issues pertaining to transformation of the state’s economy and education.
On education, he said PBB leaders had been briefed on the courses introduced to enable the state to build capacity and talent in line with a digital economy.
Abang Johari said developing a digital economy would have a “positive impact to our society and economy”.