PBB election committee chief Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah confirmed that incumbents Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Julaihi Narawi, Dr Annuar Rapaee, and Abdul Rahman Junaidi would be defending their posts.

He said they would be challenged by state deputy minister Len Talif Salleh and Satok assemblyman Ibrahim Baki, Dayak Daily reported.

Karim and Julaihi are ministers in premier Abang Johari Openg’s Cabinet, while Annuar and Rahman are deputy ministers.

PBB is composed of a Bumiputera wing and a Pesaka wing for Dayaks. The party has a total of nine vice-presidents, with the Pesaka wing allocated three and the other two held by the heads of the women and youth wings.

Awang Bemee said Abang Johari would retain the PBB presidency unopposed, while Douglas Uggah Embas and Awang Tengah Ali Hasan would continue to serve as his deputies.

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof and state minister Stephen Rundi Utom will also remain as the party’s senior vice-presidents.

PBB’s Supreme Council had approved a motion for the top five posts to go uncontested in this year’s party convention, set for Feb 14 to 16.

The Pesaka wing’s three vice-presidents’ posts will also continue to be held by Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Gerawat Gala and Gerald Rentap Jabu who retained their posts unchallenged.