Tuesday 22 October 2013

Toyad loses PBB veep race

Former tourism minister Leo Michael Toyad and Daud Abdul Rahman, the assistant minister in the Chief Minister's Office, failed to defend their positions in the PBB election last night.

KUCHING: The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Sarawak election for the post of three vice presidents last night saw two major casualties.

Former tourism minister Leo Michael Toyad and Daud Abdul Rahman, the assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, failed to defend their positions in the election held last night.

Leo Michael Toyad received 300 votes while Daud had 351 against Sarawak Tourism Assistant Minister Datuk Talip Zulpilip’s 780; Sarawak Industry Development Assistant Minister Julaihi Narawi’s 552 and Sarawak Housing Assistant Minister Abdul Wahab Aziz’s 546 votes.

Another candidate, Datuk Bolhassan, a former Sarawak Assistant Minister received 171 votes.

Earlier, in the race for two more vice presidents, Michael Manyin Jawong (Sarawak Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister) and Alexander Nanta Linggi (Deputy Minister of Rural Development) had already secured victories.

Meanwhile, the election for PBB Supreme Council posts saw Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, state assemblyman for (Bukit Kota), Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Pantai Damai), Len Talif Salleh (Belawai), Mohamad Ali Mahmud (Muara Tuang), Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (Asajaya), Ricky@Razi Sitam (Saribas), Dr Hazland Hipni (Demak Laut), Dr Murni Suhaili (Daro), Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Idris Buang and Aidan Wing elected.

PBB is headed by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. He received a resounding endorsement from the party’s 71 branches which wanted him to continue holding the position.

His two deputies, Alfred Jabu Numpang and Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, were also returned unopposed, alongside two senior vice-presidents in Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Douglas Uggah Embas.

Two vice-presidents for the Pesaka (non-Muslim) wing – Michael Manyin Jawong and Alexander Nanta Linggi – also retained their posts uncontested.

Toyad’s defeat was unexpected as he appeared to be coming out of the political woodwork lending weight to speculations of a bigger role awaiting him.

Toyad, a Melanau, has been on the local political observers’ checklist as a possible successor to Chief Minister Taib. He also had Taib’s backing for the vice-president’s post. - FMT

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