No-contest decision to avoid split in PBB, say observers

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

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Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) supreme councils no-contest decision, made during the weekend, for key posts in the coming triennial convention this year displays Chief Minister Taib Mahmuds strong grip on his party.

Taib, head of the largest component party of Sarawak Barisan Nasional, suggested that the posts of president, two deputy presidents, two senior vice-presidents and vice-president should not be contested this June or July when the convention is expected to be held out of respect for the wishes of the electorate who returned them in the last state elections.

The suggestion was made in Betong, the rural home division of his deputy Alfred Jabu, who is also one of the two deputy chief ministers.

But, according to political observers, the real reason behind the decision was that he did not want to see the kind of compaigning that went on at the last triennial convention, especially in the contest for the deputy president posts allocated to the Malay wing of the party.

In that party election, PBB was almost split between Malay and Dayak members when they were asked to decide between two candidates  Abang Johari Openg and Adenan Satem  both are state cabinet members.

Taib had seen the intensity of the campaign. Even after Johari, now the state minister in charge of tourism, won somewhat convincingly with both Malay and Dayak support over Adenan, seen largely as Taibs protege, acrimonious feelings between the two factions remained for a considerable length of time.

There were even aspersions cast on the loyalties of many senior party leaders who were not directly involved in the campaigning.

Not everyone is happy

Not everyone was said to be quite happy when Taib announced the no-contest decision, indicating that the status quo in the partys leadership line-up would remain at least for the next three years, or by the year 2005 when he may step down as chief minister.

Political observers say theres a possibility that Taib is preparing to step down sooner than expected.

His difficulty, however, is being sure about who should take over, although he has constantly mentioned three names  Abang Johari, Adenan Satem and another party-vice president Effendi Norwawi, who is a federal minister of agriculture.

The PBB supreme council meeting last Saturday unanimously agreed to the no-contest proposal by Taib, effectively ending hopes by anyone of having a go again at trying to bring Johari down, this time as the party deputy president.

Although there are two deputy presidents  the other is Alfred Jabu anak Numpang representing the Dayak section within the party  the more senior is often regarded as the deputy president representing the Malay/Melanau wing. In this case, it is Johari.

Interestingly, Adenan who is the state m inister in charge of agriculture and food industries, was asked by Taib to make the announcement during the media conference. Taib was not present. Also present was Wahab Dollah, an assistant minister and party information chief.

No chance

According to observers, Adenan must have been aware at the same time, that he would no longer have a chance to have another go at the deputy president, not for another three years, by which time Johari would have further strengthened his position on the ground.

Johari is said to have impressed the chief minister in his performance as tourism minister and deputy president and is now touted as the most likely successor should Taib decide to step down as chief minister. He also enjoys strong grassroots support, unlike Adenan and even Effendi to a certain extent.

Johari communicates well at grassroots level with his easy-going manner and simple rhetoric. Regarded as a politician who can deliver, he comes from a well-known Kuching Malay family highly respected by the local community.

His father Tun Abang Openg was Sarawaks first post-Independence head of state.

But Effendi who is working up to build up his own grassroots support in Kuala Rajang is also regarded as a likely successor. He has switched from business to politics and this may work against this flamboyant but extremely capable politician with Melanau blood.

It also depends on how he performs as a party leader within the next few years and as a federal minister.

Within this successor equation Adenan could just turn out to be a dark horse.

By ensuring there will be no changes to the leadership line-up at the higher echelon, Taib will be able to better prepare for the time for him to step down and hand over the reins to a young man in the party.



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