PETALING JAYA: Maximus Ongkili remains as president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) after the party’s Supreme Council unanimously voted in favour of him continuing until a successor is found.
“Although I have announced to step down by the next PBS election year, the Supreme Council members voted for me to stay,” he said in a statement. “This will provide PBS ample time to identify my successor.”
He said PBS has many young leaders capable of building the party and bringing it to higher heights.
Ongkili was unchallenged for the presidency at the party elections last year and had announced in June that he would step down in three years.
He became acting president in 2017 after party founder Joseph Pairin Kitingan announced his retirement from politics and was appointed president the following year.