PETALING JAYA: Disappointed division chiefs are demanding Sabah Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Perikatan election director Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to answer for the heavy defeat suffered during the Sabah state election last Saturday (Nov 29).
In a joint statement, eight Sabah Bersatu division chiefs said both Hamzah and Ronald must take responsibility as they were leading the preparation, strategy and results in the 17th Sabah state election.
"Responsibility should not be on party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as portrayed by some quarters," they said.
The statement was issued by Bersatu's Lahad Datu chairman Ahmad Ali Akbar Khan Gulan, Kota Belud chairman Jupri Omar, Papar chairman Faizal Julaili, Kalabakan chairman Ekbal Khalid, Ranau chairman Abidin Sahat, Kimanis chairman Amat Yusof, Kinabatangan chairman Mazmin Mazin and Sipitang chairman Ramli Ag Said.
They also said that Sabah Bersatu secretary Yunus Nordin was wrong in attempting to get the election candidates and division chiefs to sign a document urging Muhyiddin to resign.
"The candidates and division chiefs were called by Yunus to give a post-mortem of the election.
"Upon arrival, they were asked to sign a document urging Muhyiddin to resign, something that is unrelated to the original purpose of the meeting and highly unethical," they said, adding that Yunus did not represent them.
"Yunus should have assisted the state Perikatan chairman and election director in preparing the post-mortem report as soon as possible.
"They need to present the post-mortem findings to the Bersatu supreme council and answer any matters raised, including by a few individuals in the press conference that was held earlier.
"The party responsible for managing the state election must explain to the grassroots about Perikatan's performance, not shift responsibility to others who are not directly involved in the election," they added.
Yunus had reportedly held a press conference on Wednesday (Dec 3) to hold Muhyiddin responsible for the heavy defeat, while calling for his resignation as party president.
On this, the eight division chiefs said it was inappropriate for a press conference to be held to "point fingers" before the report is completed, as it undermines the party's credibility.
"Yunus' action, as a supreme council member, in holding the press conference without referring to and waiting for the complete post-mortem report, is irresponsible and violates party discipline.
"We urge the leadership of Bersatu and state Perikatan to shoulder the responsibility for the performance in the state election with full integrity and not politicise it," they said.
Yunus has since rejected claims that eight division chiefs were forced to support a call for Muhyiddin to resign, describing the allegations as false and intended to mislead the public.
