KOTA KINABALU: The internal crisis in Sabah PKR will be resolved by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after Hari Raya, says PKR vice-president Awang Husaini Sahari.
He said the revolt by 15 of 26 Sabah PKR division chiefs against Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Dr Sangkar Rasam was discussed by the party’s political bureau in Kuala Lumpur on March 24.
He said Sangkar remains the Sabah PKR chief and Anwar would hold consultations with all of Sabah’s division leaders after Hari Raya to find the best way to resolve the differences between them.
“Sangkar remains Sabah PKR chairman. Anwar will come to Sabah to discuss the best solutions to overcome the current crisis facing the party in Sabah,” said Husaini, a former Putatan MP and current Putatan PKR division chief.
He urged party members to avoid mudslinging in public and give Anwar the space to resolve the crisis.
“Whatever the decision of the president, all PKR members need to accept it and immediately unite for the sake of the party. The 17th Sabah state election is approaching, and we cannot afford to be divided,” he said in a statement yesterday.
On March 18, 15 of the state’s 26 division chiefs, including Kota Belud division head Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (Deputy Higher Education Minister), Api Api division chief Datuk Christina Liew (Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister) and Sepanggar division chief Peto Galim (state Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Minister) demanded that Sangkar step down.
They had also signed statutory declarations stating that they had lost confidence in his leadership.
Sangkar however was adamant about not resigning and has rallied support from some of the other key leaders of Sabah PKR.
Husaini said the appointment of the Sabah PKR chairman in 2022 was done on the prerogative of the PKR president after consulting division chiefs and as such, affidavits cannot challenge that decision.
“Their action cannot just remove Sangkar from his position,” he added.
However, Sangkar’s ability to lead PKR into the Sabah election, which is due in September 2025, is in doubt given that more than half of Sabah’s division leaders have lost faith in him, Husaini said.
“Without command and control of the leadership, it is certainly difficult for him to make decisions based on consensus, not to mention to give instructions to subordinates on the direction of the party,” he added.
