Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai have won the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president and deputy president posts unopposed for the 2026–2029 term.
PBS Secretary-General Datuk Julita Mojungki said Joachim was the sole candidate for president when nominations closed on July 31, while Kiulu Assemblyman Joniston was the only nominee for the non-Muslim Bumiputera deputy president post.
Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Minister Datuk Ruslan Muharram also won the Muslim Bumiputera deputy president post uncontested after another candidate failed to meet the minimum requirement of three nominations.
For the Chinese deputy president slot, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Lo Su Fui and Supreme Council member Goon Thien Shang have qualified to contest as the two eligible candidates.
Julita announced that the party received a record 79 nominations across all positions, with more than half of the candidates contesting for the first time.
Joachim said that the record number of candidates and influx of debutants demonstrate widespread interest in serving the party and augur well for PBS’ rejuvenation process.
He said this after chairing the party's political bureau and supreme council meetings, where leaders discussed preparations for the upcoming PBS Congress scheduled for September.
