KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR is identifying candidates for the upcoming state election before finalising seat allocations with its Pakatan Harapan coalition partners.
Its political bureau chairman Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the party is conducting "internal housekeeping" and resolving issues to ensure a smooth selection process for the 17th State Election.
“We are identifying winnable seats and (suitable) candidates before negotiating with our coalition partners.
"Our goal is a win-win situation while avoiding multi-cornered fights," said Liew, who is also state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister.
Speaking after the ministry's excellent service awards ceremony on Wednesday (Feb 26), she said the party is focused on securing viable constituencies and ensuring strong representation before engaging with PKR headquarters and other Sabah Pakatan component parties.
In the last election, Sabah PKR contested seven seats – Tamparuli, Inanam, Klias, Tempasuk, Matunggong, Sook, and Api-Api – but won only two, with Liew winning in Api-Api and Datuk Peto Galim victorious in Inanam.
Sabah Pakatan consists of PKR, Upko, DAP and Amanah.
Liew said she plans to defend her position as Api-Api PKR division chief in the party’s state elections in March and April, ahead of the national party election in May.
Last month, Sabah PKR leadership council secretary Sazalye Donol voiced dissatisfaction over Upko, a smaller and newer coalition member, leading Sabah Pakatan.
The party argued that the chairmanship has traditionally been held by PKR and was never subject to a selection process.
Although Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick won the role by three votes, Sazalye said the process was unprecedented and that they await coalition chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s final decision.
He also claimed Sabah PKR was not properly informed about key meetings, including the Sabah Pakatan annual general meeting on Dec 1, where their request for a postponement was denied.
Sazalye questioned Upko’s eligibility to lead, citing its recent entry into Pakatan, and suggested DAP would have been a more reasonable choice.
Despite the disagreement, he denied an internal crisis, stating it has not affected coalition relations.
Benedick, meanwhile, urged calm and defended his appointment as legitimate under Pakatan’s regulations.
