‘No’ to Anwar’s PKR choice
Published on: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Sazalye (seated middle) with other PKR Sabah division chiefs at the press conference.
Kota Kinabalu: Fifteen out of 26 Sabah PKR division chiefs have called for Datuk Sangkar Rasam to step down as the party’s state chairman.
The disgruntled leaders said Sangkar had failed to conduct crucial party-building activities like election preparedness, communication and leadership training and public speaking exercises.
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“Ever since he was appointed in 2022, Sangkar has done nothing to strengthen the party.
“So far, the only thing he does is organising the welcome events for our national leaders when they visit Sabah,” said the group’s spokesperson, PKR Kota Marudu divisional chief Sazalye Donol.
“Every time there were meetings, nothing was achieved and our direction as a party remained unclear. He does not possess the confidence of Sabah PKR leaders and the grassroots.
“Sangkar’s failure has caused the party to be looked down upon not only by Pakatan Harapan (PH) components but also partners in the Unity Government,” he told a press conference here, Monday.
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The dissatisfaction has been brewing since last year but reached its peak when they called for a meeting on Sunday (March 17) to discuss the matter.
The other divisional chiefs whose names were on the statement are Kota Belud’s Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Kota Kinabalu’s Datuk Christina Liew, Sepanggar’s Peto Galim, Tuaran’s Razeef Rakimin, Pensiangan’s Raymond Ahuar, Sipitang’s Wendey Agong, Beaufort’s Dikin Musah, Beluran’s Basran Omar, Kinabatangan’s Azmi Tambuyong, Papar’s Roslee Malek, Kimanis’s Awang Chuchu, Kalabakan’s Roslan Sapar, batu Sapi’s Aris Remigius and Semporna’s Amin Mem.
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Sazalye said the 15 officially made their stance during the meeting on Sunday.
“Most of the other chiefs who did not pen their signatures were in fact in support of the motion,” he said.
Sazalye said the Statutory Declarations (SDs) were actually signed in July 2023 and received by PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary, Datuk Azman Abidin, in November the same year.
“Anwar and PH President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail know the situation in Sabah. We are only taking action now because we wanted to give Sangkar a chance but got the same results, especially now when elections are around the corner,” he added.
Sangkar, when met before the meeting at Tanjung Aru, said it was just another normal meeting. He offered no comments when asked about the development.
Prior to Sangkar’s appointment by Anwar, the party in Sabah was split into Sangkar and Christina factions.
“PKR Sabah moved on and supported Anwar’s decision, there were no ill feelings. But now if Sangkar still does not step down, we will urge Anwar to replace him for the party’s own sake,” he said.
When asked on replacement candidates, Sazalye said Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew and State Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Peto Galim could be among them.
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