SABAH PKR is pushing for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council to resolve the ongoing leadership dispute in the state, claiming that it is tradition for a PKR leader to hold the top state leadership position.
State PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the appointment of Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick as Sabah PH chief has followed the coalition’s constitution, but disputes over his nomination from PKR have now escalated to the national leadership.
“The election of a state chief is outlined in the coalition’s constitution and required by the Registrar of Societies,” Mustapha clarified during a weekly press briefing in Kota Kinabalu.
Mustapha said while PKR respects the election process, this is the first time the top state post has been handed to another party, causing dissatisfaction within the party.
“Traditionally, Sabah PKR has held the position. Now that it’s been given to someone else, it’s caused some dissatisfaction.
“The party’s view is that there should not be any change to the agreed power-sharing structure between PH parties,” he said.
Mustapha added that leadership roles in each state had been mapped out and the policy should remain unchanged.
“There was already a clear mapping of leadership roles in each state. That should remain,” he said.
Benedick, who was elected Sabah PH chief on December 1, 2024, defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Christina Liew by a slim three-vote margin. But PKR had opposed Benedick’s nomination.
Mustapha cited there could be technical issues during the election that may have confused, leading to disputes raised by PKR leaders.
“Maybe there was some confusion about previous policies, which caused this overlap,” he said, adding that PKR has submitted a report to the PH secretariat to reconsider the party’s role in building PH’s presence in Sabah.
“This isn’t about individuals. It’s about following the coalition’s constitution and resolving disputes the right way,” he said.
Mustapha clarified that Benedick, as a member of the PH Presidential Council, will be able to share his views during the meeting, but stressed that the council will have the final say.
“The final decision lies with the Presidential Council,” he said.
On another matter, 25% of seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming Sabah election remain unresolved due to disputes over key constituencies.
Sabah PKR election director Datuk Peto Galim said the matter will also be brought to the PH Presidential Council if no consensus is reached.
“We had hoped to finalise seat allocations by the end of December or early January,” Peto said.
“But it’s taking longer because everyone has been busy with their respective party activities, and not everyone is in the right mood to discuss the matter,” he added.
He said certain “hot seats” have become points of contention, describing them as “goreng pisang” — highly sought-after items.
“We will resolve this soon once everyone is ready to sit down and talk,” Peto said. - January 12, 2025
