KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup has been appointed party president to replace his father, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who has relinquished the position.

PBRS information chief Datuk Fredie Sua said in a statement that Joseph announced his intention during the party’s supreme council meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (Jan 7).

“In his address, he (Joseph) thanked all supreme council members and division heads, along the party members who remained loyal and consistently fought together in the party since its establishment in 1994,” he said.

Consequently, the supreme council members passed a motion to appoint Joseph as PBRS honorary chairman effective immediately.

Kurup, 78, who got involved in politics in 1985 by joining Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), was assemblyman for Sook from 1985 to 1999 and 2004, as well as Pensiangan MP in 2003.

Joseph also held important state positions, including Sabah deputy chief minister, Resources Development and Entrepreneur Minister, Resources Development and Information Technology Minister as well as Culture, Youth and Sports Minister.

At Federal level, he served as Minister in Prime Minister’s Department from 2013 to 2018.

PBRS is a Barisan Nasional component party, along with Umno, MCA and MIC. – Bernama