Pairin Penned Touching Message For Successor Ongkili
PENAMPANG, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Chairing his last Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Congress, the party's president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has penned a touching message for his successor.
In a souvenir book distributed to delegates of the 32nd PBS Congress, Pairin wrote a touching yet inspiring message for his deputy of 23 years, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
Pairin wrote: "To YB Datuk Dr Max Ongkili. All the best with your new responsibility. Continue the struggle, always be guided by God and wisdom. Salam Bersatu. Pairin Kitingan. President PBS. 19 Nov 2017."
The 77-year-old Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum state Infrastructure Development Minister during his policy speech yesterday said that this year would be his last congress as the party president.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who launched the three-day congress, which concluded today, thanked Pairin for his outstanding leadership and named him as the Kadazandusun Murut communities' leader.
Pairin has stated he would retire from politics and wished not to contest in the next election, saying that he wanted to focus on family and write a book.
He passed the baton of the PBS leadership to Ongkili at the party's first supreme council meeting earlier this year, whereby he would continue to carry out his ministerial and community work until the end of his term.
Ongkili, who is also Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, tabled a motion for the appointment of Pairin as PBS Honorary President for life, in recognition of his leadership and guidance.
The honorary president position, which would take effect immediately upon the formal handover of leadership, was passed unanimously.
--BERNAMA
