By Lian Cheng, Karen Bong and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 17: It is the hope of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) top leaders to see the culture of “no contest” becoming the tradition of the party.
The aspiration was expressed by its deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and secretary general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi at the the opening ceremony of PBB Women and Youth wings Assembly held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Uggah who officiated the event congratulated PBB Women chief Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and PBB Youth chief Miro Simuh for the smooth formation of their respective Supreme Councils without contest.
“Their victories without contest show the maturity of PBB politics. It is also a culture of camaraderie, understanding and awareness,” said Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier.
To him, this was a very encouraging development within the Women and Youth wings.
“This is the second time Women and Youth completed their wings’ elections without contest. So it has become a tradition.
“I hope it will continue in the future as that shows how we can work together as a team.
“We don’t fight for positions. We are here to serve the party. Congratulations to all the Women and Youth leaders,” said Uggah.
Meanwhile, Nanta during the impromptu interview which followed after the ceremony said he would not know whether the culture of “no contest” will become a tradition for the Women and Youth wings.
Like Uggah, he also brought up the fact that there was no contest within both Women and Youth wings’ elections in the last PBB Triennial General Meeting.
“It looks like the trend is going to be like this.
“But I think we must understand the underlying factors — because there is an all-round confidence in the leadership and all-round confidence and loyalty among party members. So there is no need for too much or stiff competition or jostling for positions in the party,” said Nanta, who is also Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.
For the ongoing PBB Triennial General Meeting of June 16 to 19, there has been no contest at all levels except for the Supreme Council positions allocated to the Bumiputera wing where a total 22 candidates will vie for the 16 available slots. — DayakDaily
