Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also Sarawak chief minister, is expected to continue helming Sarawak BN.

This is because all top posts will not be contested in the upcoming PBB triennial convention next month.

PBB information chief Adenan Satem today confirmed that the top posts, including for president, deputy president, senior vice-president and vice-presidents would not be challenged when about 6,000 delegates and observers attended the convention here from Oct 18-22.

"However, we expect some contests at the lower echeleon in the PBB supreme council, as well as youth and women wings, which is good," the state special functions minister told reporters after chairing PBB's 13th convention information and publicity committee meeting in Kuching.

Abdul Taib ( left ) h NONE as been leading PBB since 1981, the year he took office as chief minister, while the two party deputy president posts are currently held by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu (Pesaka wing) and state housing and tourism minister Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (Bumiputra wing).

Currently, Sarawak Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan holds the senior vice-president's post while Adenan has also been appointed to the same post.

Adenan said PBB was in the process of sending nomination forms with Oct 14 being the deadline for the party supreme council nominations, and Oct 11 for the youth and women wings.

He said Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also national BN chairman, was scheduled to launch the convention at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Oct 21, while Abdul Taib, who is also state BN chairman, would officiate at the youth and women assemblies on Oct 18 and 19, respectively.

He said a seminar to be held on Oct 20, would also discuss several working papers and topics relating to the state's physical development, politics, economy, social and education, in terms of achievements, challenges and hopes over the past 50 years of Sarawak's independence within Malaysia.

- Bernama