KOTA KINABALU: The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) supreme council has yet to endorse changes to the party leadership, with its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili set to go on leave from June 1.
PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the supreme council still has time to discuss the matter.
"We will know once we have the meeting," he said when asked if the supreme council had endorsed the changes where he (Dr Joachim) would become the acting president.
The party announced the changes earlier on Saturday (April 6) with party information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai becoming acting deputy president, a position currently held by Dr Joachim.
"It’s only effective after June 1, and we should know the (supreme council) decision after that," he said when asked if the supreme council would be meeting anytime soon.
Ongkili, 70, has been ill for a while and has speech difficulties. He has since put the party under a six-member task force led by Dr Joachim.
The task force includes the two other deputy presidents, Datuk Jahid Jahim and Datuk Yee Moh Chai, secretary general Datuk Julita Majungki, treasurer general Lu Kim Yen, and information chief Bangkuai.
Some supreme council members were surprised when the task force announced the changes to the party leadership.
There has been talk that some of the party's old guards were pushing for the former and founding president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to temporarily take back leadership of Sabah's oldest party.
However, the party constitution does not allow for Pairin to lead as he is no longer a supreme council member.
Ongkili took over the helm of the party six years ago with Pairin stepping aside in 2018.
Ongkili has agreed to the interim leadership structure of the party that was put in place in consultation with him.
"I am confident that I will leave the party in good hands. This decision is a strategic move that augurs well with PBS' effort to move forward. This is for the good of the party," Ongkili told Star in a text message.
“Both the acting president (Dr Joachim) and the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota deputy president (Joniston) are experienced, capable leaders, and I believe they will help strengthen the party and move towards reinventing, refreshing, and rejuvenating PBS to greater heights,” Ongkili said in a text message to the Star earlier.
PBS is part of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and the party has been discussing seat sharing in the non-Muslim native seats with Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
The two parties hope to strengthen their hold on the mainly Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats in the next state elections.
PBS currently holds seven state seats, and Sabah STAR holds six seats.
