PBS deputy president Jamilah quits party

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KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman (pic), who has stood by the party for over three decades, has quit amid undercurrents over the leadership of party president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.

In a surprise announcement, Jamilah, who was a former assemblyman and senator, said that she had lost confidence in the party president who she claimed was inconsistent.

“I made this decision as I’ve lost confidence in the leadership Ongkili. His leadership has not been consistent, ” she claimed in a statement yesterday.

Among others, she accused him of practising favouritism, being inconsiderate and not keeping to his words.

“It is clear that I cannot work with the president and his ‘gang’ in PBS. I feel it is best that I leave the party, ” she added.

Jamilah, who only last month was with Ongkili campaigning for the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Kimanis by-election, said that she made decision to leave the party after discussing with various supporters.

Jamilah, however, did not indicate her next political move.

Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu MP, took over the party from founding president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan early last year. He could not be reached for comments.

After the May 2018 general election, PBS lost two of its assemblymen who defected to the ruling Parti Warisan Sabah.

Several party sources alleged that there had been some unhappiness over Ongkili’s leadership.

Jamilah is the first Muslim woman to hold the deputy president post reserved for Muslim bumiputras in the multi-racial party which also has a deputy president for the Chinese and non-Muslim bumiputras.