Jabu steps down as PBB deputy president

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Abang Johari Openg today announced that Alfred Jabu had decided to step down as PBB deputy president.

He said the Sarawak deputy chief minister made the decision to enable Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas to be appointed as the party's acting deputy president.

Abang Johari made the announcement at a media conference in Kuching after chairing a PBB Supreme Council meeting at PBB's headquarters in Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya in Kuching.

He also announced that PBB had agreed with his proposal to appoint Bukit Sari assemblyperson Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as PBB acting deputy president to fill the post vacated by him (Abang Johari).

Based on the party's constitution, he automatically became the party president upon his appointment as chief minister, Abang Johari said.

Abang Johari took his oath of office as Sarawak Chief Minister on Jan 13 after the fifth Chief Minister of Sarawak Adenan Satem, who was also Tanjung Datu state assemblyperson, died of heart complications on Jan 11.

He also clarified that Uggah and Awang Tengah could not be appointed directly as deputy presidents as the posts had to be decided through elections.

Abang Johari said PBB had its own way of grooming new leaders, which had clearly contributed to the well-being of the party as leaders were selected based on their wide experience and excellent network for the party's continuity and excellence.

In this regard, he said the PBB election machinery for the Tanjung Datu by-election was in place and that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is also Santubong MP, had been appointed as its director.

On the PBB candidate (for the Tanjung Datu seat), Abang Johari only said: "It's... two, three, four".

He also thanked all PBB members for their support and said that he would be chairing a Sarawak Barisan Nasional meeting this evening.

According to him, the spirit of tolerance and strong solidarity among the coalition's members would enable it to move forward.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Feb 4 as nomination day for the Tanjung Datu by-election and polling day is on Feb 18.

- Bernama