By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, Feb 18: The loss of a ministerial candidate in a party election does not mean that it would affect their position in the Cabinet, says Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
According to the newly elected Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president, this is because party elections are a party matter.
He cited the 14th PBB Convention in 2018, in which the late Datuk Talib Zulpilip lost the vice presidential race.
“However, he still retained his post as the Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman).
“Therefore, it does not necessarily mean that a loss in the party election will directly affect one’s position in the government,” he said during a press conference at his office today.
Len said this in regard to Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who failed to defend his vice presidential post in the PBB Bumiputera wing and was willing to step down from his ministerial positions in the Sarawak Cabinet should Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari wish it.
However, Abang Johari gave his assurance that Abdul Karim would retain his positions and that there would be no reshuffling of the Sarawak Cabinet.
In the 16th PBB Convention, which took place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Feb 14-16, Abdul Karim failed to retain his vice presidential post when he garnered 669 votes—which was 18 votes behind Len, who secured 687. Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, another ministerial candidate, also failed to retain his post.
This allowed Len to be elected as among the four PBB vice presidents along with Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, and Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. — DayakDaily
