Joachim confirmed as PBS president, Joniston elected deputy

 Sabah assistant minister Ruslan Muharram is also elected unopposed as PBS deputy president for the Muslim Bumiputera quota.

Dr Joachim Gunsalam is the new PBS president, formally filling the role he has held in the interim since 2024, while Joniston Bangkuai takes over Joachim’s previous deputy president’s post.

PETALING JAYA:

Sabah deputy chief minister Dr Joachim Gunsalam has been formally elected as president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), while assistant minister Joniston Bangkuai is the party’s new deputy president.

PBS secretary-general Julita Mojungki said Joachim and Joniston were both elected unopposed for the 2026-2029 term as they were the only ones nominated for the top two posts in the upcoming party election.

Joachim’s election confirms his position as PBS president, which he has held on an interim basis since June 2024 after his predecessor, Maximus Ongkili, stepped down due to health reasons.

In 2022, Joachim defeated Joniston in the race for the PBS deputy presidency for the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota, but that post has been essentially vacant ever since Joachim was made acting president.

Joniston, the four-term Kiulu assemblyman, was previously PBS information chief.

Julita also announced that assistant minister Ruslan Muharram was elected unopposed as the new PBS deputy president for the Muslim Bumiputera quota, replacing Jahid Jahim, who opted not to defend the post.

Two candidates will be contesting for the PBS deputy president’s post for the Chinese quota – deputy federal territories minister Lo Su Fui and Supreme Council member Goon Thien Shang.

Three leaders will be vying for the two non-Muslim Bumiputera vice-president posts – incumbent Johnny Mositun, Tandek assemblyman Hendrus Anding, and Telupid assemblyman Jonnybone J Kurum.

For the two Muslim Bumiputera vice-president posts, six candidates are in the running – Mursid Rais, who is seeking another term, Sharol Mahoolop, Zamil Ismail, Kasirin Kamiran, Ali Latif Taha and Rodah Sawang.

The single Chinese vice-presidency will meanwhile be contested by incumbent Arthur Sen, Fredian Gan, Goon Thien Shang, Johnny Goh and Ng Tze Sai.

Julita also said a total of 28 candidates are contesting for the seven non-Muslim Bumiputera seats in the PBS Supreme Council for the next term.

She added that 23 will vie for the five Muslim-Bumiputera spots, while 15 are contesting for the four slots allocated to the Chinese community.

PBS, a key component of the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, has seven seats in the Sabah assembly and one parliamentary seat. - FMT