KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam is set to be endorsed as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president at next month’s party congress.
Dr Gunsalam, who has been the acting president after incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili stepped aside due to health reasons in 2024, is set to win the presidency unopposed with nominations having closed on July 31.
Senior PBS sources said Dr Gunsalam secured all nominations from the 61 eligible divisions.
PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, an Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, is also set to win the deputy presidency (for non-Muslim bumiputra) unopposed. The position has been held by Dr Gunsalam.
Bangkuai, the four-term Kiulu assemblyman, also received nominations from all divisions.
Current vice-president Datuk Ruslan Muharam is also expected to be returned unopposed for the deputy presidency (Muslim bumiputra) slot, with incumbent Datuk Seri Jahid Jahim retiring from active politics.
For the PBS deputy presidency (Chinese), all eyes are on the party’s first-term Tawau MP Datuk Lo Su Fui with veteran Datuk Seri Dr Yee Moh Chai also retiring.
According to sources, supreme council member Goon Thien Shang received five nominations making him eligible to contest the deputy presidency but he has yet to confirm his candidacy.
They said multi-cornered contests are expected for the three vice-president slots with 13 nominated, while 66 will vie for the 20 supreme council seats.
Contests are also expected for all positions in the Youth and Wanita wings.
The party congress from Sept 24-26 will see a huge leadership revamp with most of the old guard making way for fresh leadership in Sabah’s oldest multi-racial party, which is a major partner in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government.
