BY NATASHA JEE & NURIN PATRA
KUCHING: Premier and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed gratitude to the party’s grassroots leaders for their confidence in his leadership, as well as to his deputy presidents and senior vice presidents.
Abang Johari said this following his unopposed re-election as PBB president, a position he will continue to hold for another three-year term.
“First, I would like to express my appreciation to the grassroots leaders of PBB across Sarawak for their confidence in me to lead the party, as well as to my fellow deputy presidents and senior vice presidents.
“This certainly reflects the aspirations of the grassroots leaders to continue PBB’s efforts in driving a more sustainable development and to build a leadership team that continues to earn the people’s trust.
“Most importantly, our core struggle is based on the interests of Sarawak within the framework of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
Abang Johari said this when asked to comment on him being re-elected unopposed as the PBB president during an exclusive interview in conjunction with the upcoming PBB 16th Triennial General Meeting (TGM) at his office, Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Wednesday.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman added it is the responsibility of the PBB leadership, in collaboration with the state’s ruling party, to continuously assess the benefits secured thus far.
“Furthermore, we must focus on the future of Sarawak and Malaysia within the framework of MA63.
“I am confident that with strong unity and solidarity among PBB leaders, along with the cooperation we receive from the component parties of GPS, we can effectively fulfill this responsibility,” he said.
On Tuesday (Feb 11), PBB Election Committee chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, in a press conference after the drawing of ballot numbers at PBB headquarters, said all 82 party branches across Sarawak unanimously endorsed Abang Johari’s leadership, leading him to retain his post as the party’s president.
Meanwhile, the party’s top leadership remained unchanged, with deputy presidents Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan retaining their roles as deputy presidents, unopposed.
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom will also continue to serve as the senior vice presidents.
Awang Bemee also said there is no contest for positions in the party’s Youth and Women’s wings.
The PBB 16th TGM or PBB Convention is scheduled to take place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Feb 14 to 16.
