MENUMBOK: Members of the Supreme Council of the Kadayan Sabah Association (PAADIAN) selected for the 2026-2029 session during the 2026 Annual General Meeting also featured young individuals as the next generation to advocate for their community.
Datuk Dr. Yusof Yacob, Chairman of Sabah Development Berhad, retained the position of President unopposed, alongside his deputy Datuk Ramlee Kariah, who is also the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat.
The three elected vice presidents are Sani Gapar, an entrepreneur, Nawi Bair, a former Director of the Ministry of Health Training Institute in Kota Kinabalu, and Hamidi Salleh, also an entrepreneur.
The ten elected members of the Supreme Council (AMT) also include several new faces and young individuals such as Jakaria Nayan, Ibrahim Muksin, Alizah Arif, Azrin Sohaini, Muhammad Zulfadhli Amir, Romay Shahirie, Salbiah Nayan, Osman Arshad, Ustaz Mohd Ridzuan Kaplin, and Mohd Nazib Maidan.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Mempakul Fishermen’s Hall in Menumbok last Saturday, Dr. Yusof said the association will continue to advocate for and elevate the culture, arts, and heritage of the Kadayan community in the country.
At the same time, he mentioned that PAADIAN also encourages the participation of the Kadayan community in state and federal public sectors, demonstrating that they can compete as well.
He noted that among the prominent Kadayan individuals in the state and federal public sectors are Datuk Seri Panglima Sr. Safar Untong, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Academic and International) Datuk Prof. Dr. Rossita Shapawi, Director of Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital Kota Kinabalu Dr. Ferro Firdaus Ibrahim, and Datuk Ramlee Kariah as COO of the SMJ Secretariat.
He added that PAADIAN also promotes the involvement of young people in the association as the next generation to advocate for their community, including participation as AMT members in the association.
