KUCHING, Feb 1: Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will be supporting the nomination of Works Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Bumiputera wing’s Senior Vice-President.
Speaking to reporters after attending the party’s triennial general meeting (TGM) organising committee meeting at its headquarters near Bako here late this afternoon, Abdul Karim said he had communicated with Fadillah over the matter and was willing to give way to the latter, as Fadillah was more experienced.
“Being a senior vice-president would be a lot of work. I have even informed the top leaders about it. Presently I’m a supreme council member. The senior vice-president’s post is two steps up. I would have to go up one step at a time.
“All of us are good friends inside PBB. I would like to see Fadillah there as well. That’s how I look at it. We are facing the general election soon, and we do not want any disarray in the party. We help each other,” he said.
Abdul Karim however said he will be contesting for the vice-president’s post as he was among the first to be nominated for the post.
“The rest is up to the delegates. If they think I’m up for the job then so be it. Otherwise, I would just have to accept the fact,” he said.
There are four vice-president posts to be contested in the coming TGM, as compared to three currently. The three incumbents are Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Kalaka assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz and Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife that there will be seven nominations for the four vice-presidents’ posts. As Abdul Wahab will not be defending his post, that would leave five more to contest for the post.
Word from the ground is that among the names nominated for the posts are Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
PBB election committee chairman Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar said everything will only be made clear by Friday (Feb 2) after all the nomination papers have been sorted out.
He said even after the deadline of 6pm today, the nomination papers would still needed to be sorted out first.
“After the papers have been sorted out, the vote casting will be done after Friday prayers,” said Mohammad Asfia.
Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who was chairing the TGM organising committee meeting earlier said the TGM would begin with the Youth and Women meetings on Feb 9. Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will be present to officiate.
The main TGM would be the day after, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to officiate, he added. — DayakDaily
