Max 'takes over' running of PBS
Published on: Saturday, July 30, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The Parti Bersatu Sabah Supreme Council has resolved to allow Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili to carry out the duties of the party president with immediate effect.Party Secretary General Datuk Johnny Mositun in a statement, Friday, said the decision was made at the request of Party President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, when chairing the party's Supreme Council Meeting, here.However, Mositun said Pairin will remain as the PBS President until the end of the current term of parliament and the State Assembly. "He will continue to carry out his ministerial duties and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) work until the end of the term," said Mositun.ADVERTISEMENT He added that Ongkili, who is also the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, will oversee all party matters, including affairs and management of divisions, branches and party headquarters."This is part of the preparatory step in the succession plan of the party."In his speech, the party President urged party leaders at all levels to cooperate, stay united and work hard to strengthen the party and ensure the Barisan Nasional's victory in the next election," he said.It had long been speculated that Pairin would be making way for Ongkili under the succession plan. ADVERTISEMENT Pairin, who formed PBS after leaving Parti Berjaya in 1984, had been its President ever since – making him the longest-serving party president in Malaysian political history.He led his 45-day old PBS to victory in the 1985 State Election and remained Chief Minister until 1994 when defections by his party colleagues caused PBS to lose its grip on power.
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The party pulled out of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition four years earlier, thus placing it in the opposition. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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It rejoined during the tenure of Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat as Chief Minister.He is also one of the few politicians to have contested and won both State and Parliament seats simultaneously.