By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Feb 10: One of the notable highlights of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention 2025, to be held from Feb 14 to 16, is the contest for four vice-presidential posts by two full ministers, three deputy ministers, and a backbencher lawmaker in the Bumiputera wing.
The two Cabinet ministers who are defending their party VP posts are the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and the Minister of Utilities and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, while the two deputy ministers are Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (Education and Innovation) and Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Utilities and Communication).
Challenger Datuk Len Talif is also a deputy minister (of Natural Resources and Urban Development), with Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki as the only candidate who is neither a minister nor deputy minister.
There are nine VP posts in PBB, with two set aside for the Youth and Women chiefs, three for the Pesaka wing, and four for the Bumiputera wing.
Another highlight, perhaps, is the contest for supreme council members when seven new faces have been noted, namely Jepak assemblyman Iskandar Turkee, Dato Mohamad Yusnar Matalie, Hadzman Johnny, Comar Amid, Sulhie Salleh, Zainulabidin @ Zainal Ismail, and Julaihi Mohamad.
Challengers and defenders for VP posts and supreme councils are set to draw lots for their candidate numbers tomorrow at PBB headquarters.
There will be no contest for the top posts of president, deputy president I, deputy president II, and two senior vice presidents.
Thus, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to continue to lead the party as president, while Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas will continue to be deputy president I, and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan retains his position as deputy president II.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, who are both incumbent senior vice-presidents, are expected to continue to serve the party in the same capacity. — DayakDaily
