PBB Women honours past leaders for their invaluable contributions

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Fatimah (second left) presents a memento to Empiang at the event, witnessed by (from left) Rohani, Angelina, Nancy and others.

KUCHING: The leadership in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has always been strong because it upholds the party’s values, philosophy and characteristics holistically.

Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah also believes that the strength in PBB lies in its strong membership.

At the moment, there are 82 PBB branches and 1,333 sub-branches in the state.

“We can always unite everybody in the party through loyalty, unity, sacrifice, respect, love and the ever-readiness to serve. That is why PBB is the backbone of the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government in Sarawak – when PBB is strong, then BN is strong.

“As the (PBB) Women chief, I will continue with the membership drives so that we will continue to have more members and become a stronger party,” she said at PBB’s ‘Appreciation Night’ here on Friday, where PBB Women honoured their former chief Tan Sri Empiang Jabu and other senior members who had stepped down.

Adding on, Fatimah said PBB values and philosophy had always served as the guidelines that contributed to the strength and survival of the party.

“These are the very values that Tan Sri Empiang had upheld throughout her three terms as PBB Women chief, spanning 2007 to 2016. The same can be said for other former PBB Women senior members: Datin Norah Harden (chief treasurer 2007-2016), Datin Senorita Linang (information bureau 2007-2010), Sharifah Aishah Tuanku Fauzi (information chief 2007-2016) and Datin Catherine Awing Wan (executive council committee 2013-2013).”

Fatimah also lauded these women leaders on their stepping down from PBB to give way to the new faces.

“The change has been smooth, which is also another trademark of PBB and because of this tradition, PBB will continue to be strong, relevant to and respected by society at large.”

Fatimah said another of PBB’s strong traditions was to always consult with the top leadership before embarking on any plan or programme.

“We always work together and respect one another. Pesaka (section) respects the Bumiputera (section), and Bumiputera respects Pesaka.” Moreover, Fatimah admitted that Empiang had left ‘a very big shoe’ for her to fill.

“Nevertheless, I will give my best and with the support of new PBB Women team members for the 2018-2020 term who are very charismatic, dynamic and energetic, I will take on the responsibilities and fulfil the trust bestowed upon me – both by the party’s Bumiputera and Pesaka Women’s wings.”

Under PBB Women, the deputy chiefs are federal Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim who represents Bumiputera, and Datin Angelina Celestine Ujang who represents Pesaka.

The vice-chiefs are Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Bumiputera), Dato Dayang Madinah Tun Openg (Bumiputera) and Datuk Catherine Gramong (Pesaka).