KOTA KINABALU, June 23 (The Borneo Post) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Kadamaian division chief Datuk Herbert T Lagadan is not worried that he is being challenged for the top post.

According to the Kadamaian assemblyman, the challenge is a normal process in a party which upholds the genuine democratic right of all its members.

The Assistant Community Service and Consumer Affair Minister pointed out that the delegates will have the final say who will be the next PBS leader for Kadamaian during the annual general meeting on July 7.

Herbert is being challenged by Kampung Gaur Linampai PBS branch chief Palalun Lagadan (no relation) who said he has been with the party since its inception in 1985.

Palalun was quoted as saying that he would strive to strengthen PBS, especially in Gaur and he would also like to form a Barisan Nasional (BN) committee in Kadamaian comprising members from PBS, UPKO, PBRS and Umno in to order to strengthen the coalition there.

According to Palalun, he was the Kampung Gaur Village Development and Security Committee chairman before he was appointed Gaur village head until May last year when her service was terminated without any reason.

Herbert in a statement yesterday clarified that Palalun had only rejoined PBS in 2001 and he became the branch chairman of PBS Gaur Linampai soon after its registration in 2003.

“I have attested my agreement to appoint him as Kampung Gaur’s village head in 2004. However, his service was terminated early this year due to abuse of administrative power.

“He knows the reason why he was sacked and in fact he came to see me begging for pardon. I would not comment on his popularity because popularity can be either in a positive or negative sense but the people of Kampung Gaur would know best who he is,” Herbert said.