LAHAD DATU: Several Bersatu Sabah division chiefs called on the party’s state leadership to take full responsibility for the Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) disappointing performance in the recent Sabah state elections.
Lahad Datu Bersatu Division Chief Ahmad Ali Akhbar Khan Gulam said the leadership should act with integrity and refrain from politicising the issue or shifting blame to cover their own shortcomings.
He said that Sabah PN Chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Election Director Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin bear primary responsibility for the election outcome, not PN Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as some parties have suggested.
Ali Akhbar said candidates and division leaders were summoned by the party’s Sabah State Leadership Council Secretary Yunus Nordin for a post-election review.
However, they were unexpectedly asked to sign a document calling for Muhyiddin’s resignation, a matter completely unrelated to the meeting’s stated purpose.
“This action was highly unethical. The statement issued by Yunus does not represent us and only adds confusion whilst the party examines the election results,” Ali Akhbar said in a joint statement supported by Bersatu division chiefs from Kota Belud, Papar, Kalabakan, Ranau, Kimanis, Kinabatangan, Kota Marudu and Sipitang.
The division leaders said the State PN Chairman and Election Director should present post-election findings to Bersatu’s Supreme Leadership Council and explain the PN’s performance to grassroots members.
Ali Akhbar criticised the party’s State Secretary for holding a press conference before completing the post-mortem report, calling it inappropriate and damaging to the party’s credibility.
“His (Yunus) actions represent irresponsibility and a breach of party discipline,” he said.
