KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's oldest registered political party, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), is set to mark its 40th anniversary on Wednesday (March 5) with a commitment to stick with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
PBS secretary-general Datuk Julita Majungki said acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam is expected to reiterate the party's position to remain within the ruling state coalition for the coming state election.
PBS, with seven assemblymen and one MP, is the second-largest component party in GRS.
Dr Joachim, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II, is also expected to outline the party's future and remind members of their role to maintain PBS as a formidable political force.
She said that celebrations would be held in a "modest yet meaningful" celebration at the Hakka Hall here.
They expect some 1,000 party members, including division leaders and representatives from its Women and Youth wings.
Majungki said PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who handed over duties to Dr Joachim for health reasons, is also expected to attend, as well as its founding president and premier advisor Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
PBS came into Sabah's political prominence when Pairin led the fledgling multi-racial party to topple the powerful Parti Berjaya led by Tan Sri Mohd Harris Salleh in the 1985 state polls.
PBS ruled the state until March 1994 but a spate of defections by its assemblymen to Sabah Barisan Nasional led by Umno saw the collapse of Pairin's government just three weeks after the state elections.
