Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and founder of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Joseph Pairin Kitingan has been returned unopposed as party president after nominations closed yesterday.

In announcing this today, PBS election committee chairperson Johnny Mositun said Pairin received nominations from all 57 PBS divisions, showing the continuing confidence in him to lead the party.

In what is seen as a grand battle, all incumbent three deputy presidents are being challenged this time around, Mositum told reporters at the party headquarters in Donggongon, Kota Kinabalu tonight.

He said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili, who is the incumbent deputy president under the non-Muslim bumiputera quota, is being challenged by secretary-general Henrynus Amin.

Ongkili, who won uncontested in the previous party election, received 32 nominations while Henrynus garnered nominations from 20 divisions.

- Bernama