PENAMPANG: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam has become the new Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president
for the non-Muslim bumiputra quota after narrowly beating his challenger Datuk Joniston Bangkuai in the party election.
The 64-year-old Joachim, who was previously the PBS vice-president, won the contest by a mere five votes.
The Kundasang state assemblyman garnered 339 votes from the 741 delegates who cast their votes during the party polls on Thursday night.
Bangkuai, who is Kiulu state assemblyman and was previously the PBS secretary-general, secured 334 votes in the closely contested race which saw 68 spoilt votes.
The vote, announced shortly after midnight, ended months of suspense and rivalry between the two men for the party’s deputy president post.
For the Muslim bumiputra slot, incumbent deputy president Datuk Jahid Jahiml retained the post unopposed.
Former deputy chief minister, Datuk Seri Dr Yee Moh Chai retained the deputy president post for the Chinese quota after garnering 481 votes, outperforming former Tanjung Aru assemblyman Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah who obtained 222 votes.
Meanwhile, state assemblyman for Tandek Hendrus Anding and former PBS vice president Datuk Johnny Mositun won the two PBS vice president posts for the non-Muslim bumiputra quota.
Anding secured 413 votes while Mositun obtained 396 votes.
