KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam prefers to walk the talk.
"He is the kind of leader who is hard working and less talking," said the minister's political secretary Yubidi Gumpogo.
"This is in line with (Sabah) Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's wish for everyone, including leaders, to work hard, with less politicking."
Yubidi was responding to a political analysis by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) senior lecturer Prof Dr Lee Kuok Tiung ahead of the PBS 36th annual general meeting and party polls.
Lee had said party secretary-general Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was seen to have implemented several efforts to strengthen the party, such as online membership registration and the publication of a summary of the history of PBS's struggle.
On the other hand, Joachim is seen as not very vocal despite being a deputy chief minister and five-term assemblyman for Kundasang.
Joachim, who is also state industrial development minister, will face off with Joniston, who is also state assistant tourism, culture and environment minister, for the party's deputy president post.
Both leaders are contesting for the non-Muslim Bumiputera slot. The other two slots are for Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese.
Dr Joachim joined PBS through a professional group in 2002 and the vice president post he holds was won during the previous party election where he garnered the highest votes, said Yubidi.
"PBS is a party that prioritises teamwork and not just about the personality of an individual," he said.
Yubidi said the state Industrial Development Ministry under the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap development plan has brought in RM4.2 billion worth of investments by South Korea's SK Nexilis to manufacture copper foil for car batteries.
The other one was for solar glass by SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd, worth RM2 billion, he said, adding that both investments provided job opportunities for Sabahans.
"This means the appointment of Dr Joachim as representing PBS in the state cabinet was not in vain.
"Furthermore, he is now a five-term assemblyman for Kundasang which shows the people have confident in his leadership," he said.