Adenan won’t seek re-election as veep

KUCHING: Former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Adenan Satem will not seek re-election as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president. 

Adenan said he did not wish to continue in the post although the party’s supreme council had decided recently that all positions from vice-president upwards would not be contested at the party elections in Miri on Saturday. 

“I feel it is time for me to give way to young people, and (I will) act only in an advisory capacity,” he said in a press statement yesterday. 

Adenan said he had nominated state Public Utilities Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan as his successor. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi had also announced recently he would not seek re-election as vice-president at the party’s triennial general assembly. 

Adenan, Effendi and state Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg, were the three men named several years ago by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as his likely successor. Johari is PBB deputy president. 

Also not seeking re-election are senior vice-president Datuk Celestine Ujang (former state Housing Minister) and vice-presidents Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud (former Education Minister) and Datuk Wan Ullok (a former Senator). 

Adenan said he would continue to be loyal to PBB and the Barisan Nasional, and was ready to provide help whenever required.