Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's close ally Awang Tengah Ali Hassan is said to be the front runner for the senior vice-president post (Bumiputera wing) of PBB following Adenan Satem's announcement yesterday that he does not want to continue in the post.

Adenan's announcement, made two days before the start of the six-day PBB convention in Miri starting tomorrow, came amid reports that the former federal minister had felt totally disillusioned and sidelined both in and outside the party after appearing to be overly keen to push Taib out and take over as CM more than a year ago.

He apparently misread Taib's intention in asking him to resign his state ministerial post and to take up the federal post and announced he was ready to take over a year ago when Taib's health appeared to be failing following his (Taib's) operation in Singapore to remove a tumour in his colon.

In recent months, Taib has been putting in an increasingly number of public appearances all over Sarawak to indicate he is hale and hearty, perhaps as a way to confound those who thought his health was deteriorating.

Adenan, once married to Taib's sister Zainab, is said to have felt disappointed at not being brought back into the state after his return from Kuala Lumpur. He is as good as having disappeared from the radar screen, although he holds two elected posts - as MP for Batang Sadong and state assemblyperson for Tanjung Datu.

Adenan a gone case

A party insider said the political career of Adenan, 64, is as good as over with his decision not to hold any party post and to concentrate on his remaining terms as an elected representative and as Sarawak Foundation chairperson.

The same source said it will be interesting to watch whether Adenan will attend the party convention where the party's supreme council has decided there will be no election for all top posts except in cases where the posts have become vacant.

In his press statement, Adenan said he would like to nominate, if possible, State Minister Awang Tengah to the senior vice president post.

Certain quarters suggested that Adenan has chosen to name Awang Tengah, also current PBB treasurer, who backed him two years ago when it appeared Adenan was on the ascendency and likely to be confirmed as Taib's successor.

It was also to ensure that the ambitious State Assembly Speaker and Semop state assemblyperson Awang Asfia Awang Nassar's move to ascend the party leadership hierarchy would be blocked.

It is no secret that Asfia, a UK-trained lawyer, harbours ambition to be senior vice-president, a post that is a couple of steps closer to the much-coveted prize of the state's chief ministership.

AJs staying put?

However, most party veterans and political observers are not ready to rule out Effendi Norwawi as becoming Taib's anointed successor. Taib has played his cards close to his chest and Effendi has shown, at least publicly, that he is taking a back-seat role in the party.

But that is likely to be more a facade, because Taib can always turn to the party's parliamentary caucus and bring anyone in to be a candidate to succeed him as chief minister and to become party leader.

"The two AJs - Alfred Jabu and Abang Johari - will probably stay where they are as deputy presidents," the same analysts said.

The other senior vice-president reserved for the Pesaka section is likely to be filled by Deputy Transport Minister Douglas Ugah, presently PBB Youth chief, taking over from former Housing Minister Celestine Ujang.

Kemena state assemblyperson Dr Steven Rundi is expected to take over as the party's new Youth leader.