Unrest in Sabah PKR leadership nothing unusual, says Liew
Published on: Thursday, April 04, 2024
By: FMT
Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief Christina Liew says any appointment of a new leader for the state chapter of PKR remains in the hands of party president Anwar Ibrahim.
PETALING JAYA: State Pakatan Harapan chief Christina Liew has played down the leadership crisis in Sabah PKR, saying it will not “break” it as the party has gone through similar situations in the past.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the PKR president, is expected to resolve the crisis during his trip to the state for the national-level open house on April 20, Malay Mail reported.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anwar has to decide between keeping current Sabah PKR chairman Sangkar Rasam or opting for deputy higher education minister Mustapha Sakmud, who has nominated himself to lead the party in the next state election.
“In my 22 years in PKR, these issues have come up once in a while – change of chairman, change of people – we have seen many people leave the party,” Liew said.
Liew, who is also Kota Kinabalu PKR division chief, said that despite the opposition of the majority towards Sangkar, the appointment of a new leader would remain in the hands of the president.
“I think we will wait until the state dissolves the assembly. I heard from the government that they will hold on until the end of the term, around October next year.
ADVERTISEMENT
“(In the) meantime, as a government component, we have to work hard, that’s the only thing we should do,” she said.
Sangkar has refused to step down despite calls from the majority of Sabah PKR.
ADVERTISEMENT
At a press conference in Kota Kinabalu on March 17, Kota Marudu PKR division chief Sazalye Donol said 15 out of 26 Sabah division chiefs had called for Sangkar to step down as state chairman, walking out of a state leadership meeting after expressing their unhappiness with his leadership.
However, Sangkar dismissed Sazalye’s claim that he was not leading the state chapter effectively and had failed to organise programmes to strengthen it, calling the allegations “groundless accusations”.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
