KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam will be the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president starting June 1.
PBS secretary-general Datuk Julita Majungki said the incumbent president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili is taking leave from his position.
The 65-year-old Ongkili, who was a Sabah member of parliament from 2004 until 2022, had said in 2022 that he would only step down three years later, which is next year.
However, since last year, he has been reported to be ill and could not communicate well, which led to Dr Joachim reading Ongkili's speeches during major PBS events.
"In his absence, Joachim would be helming the party as acting president.
"With Dr Joachim, who is the deputy president for the party's non-Muslim Bumiputera quota, moving up as acting president, information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai would serve the additional responsibility of acting deputy president," she said in a statement.
Joniston, 62, is an assistant State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister and Sabah Tourism Board chairman.
Julita added the move demonstrates the party's commitment to ensuring continuity and adaptation in its leadership structure, ultimately serving the interests of the party and its members.