Abang Johari: PBB Youth Wing Members Can Be Election Candidates If They Meet Requirements

SIBU, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has not ruled out the possibility of highlighting young candidates from the party's newly established Youth Wing to compete in the next state election.

Johari, who is also Sarawak Premier, said the condition is that the candidate must have the ability and also be accepted by all parties, especially the voters.

“If this (condition) is met, it does not matter about background or place...if the community accepts them then why don't we appoint them (as candidates)," he told reporters after officiating the PBB Youth Convention here today.

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According to him, at each election, PBB must have 30 per cent of candidates who are new faces, and the old experienced faces should work with these new faces.

Johari, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, however said that the PBB youth group needs to be adequately trained to be able to interact well with the community comprising diverse backgrounds in Sarawak.

Abang Johari asked these young people not to be too eager to move quickly to advance themselves in the political field, while also avoiding being too extreme to the point of being willing to use religion to get support.

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"That is something dangerous. What is important is to maintain the security of the state of Sarawak," he said, adding that the new leaders must be wise to take care of what will happen in the future by gaining as much knowledge as possible in the field of technology to help the people.

He described the establishment of the PBB Youth Wing as historic for Sarawak politics and will provide space for youths aged 18 to 28, to become members of the PBB and be able to contribute towards not only the development of the PBB but also the development of GPS.

He said the participation of youth in the wing will be a form of 'internship' in a corporate body where they gain knowledge and continue to contribute to Sarawak and Malaysia.

The PBB, according to him, emphasises strategic training especially in high technology such as in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), aerospace, green economy based on renewable green energy, modern agriculture and semi-conductors.

-- BERNAMA