PBS congress may be Pairin's last appearance as president

Parti Bersatu Sabah's (PBS) delegates congress today may be the last that Joseph Pairin Kitingan attended as the party's president.

The 76-year-old political heavyweight, who founded PBS in March 1984, said he would not be contesting in the next general election, which may mean that he would no longer helm the 31-year-old party.

"I want to retire. I want to play with my grandchildren and write a book.

"But whether or not I will still be (party) president then (next general election) depends on whether PBS will hold a party election, either before or after the general election," he told reporters when met at the congress in Penampang today.

Pairin, who is also Sabah deputy chief minister, is Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyperson.

He said he had appointed PBS deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili, a federal minister, as acting president and was confident in Ongkili's leadership.

In invigorating the party, he said young PBS members were now receptive to the party's struggles and more of them were showing signs of their capability to become future leaders of the party.

Earlier in his policy speech, Pairin said PBS was also undertaking an active recruitment exercise nationwide with the focus of luring young people to join the party and continue PBS' struggles.

He also said the PBS supreme council had decided to spread its wings to the peninsula with the first two branches set to be opened in January next year.

"Members will consist of Sabahans, who are working and living in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysians of all races who are attracted to our multiracial party," he said.

- Bernama