Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam has officially assumed office as the president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) after being returned unopposed for the 2026–2029 term during the party’s 41st Annual Delegates Congress on Saturday.
Succeeding Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Joachim becomes the third president of the 41-year-old multiracial party following Maximus and founding president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
In his maiden presidential policy address, Joachim identified unity, stability, and integrity as the core pillars of his leadership while outlining plans to rejuvenate the party through digitalisation and leadership succession.
He proposed the establishment of a special task force of experienced party members to devise rejuvenation strategies, adding that PBS will continue its partnership within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) while maintaining its distinct identity.
The party also saw its three deputy president positions filled uncontested by Datuk Joniston Bangkuai for the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota, Datuk Ruslan Muharam for the Muslim Bumiputera quota, and Datuk Lo Su Fui for the Chinese quota.
