TROUBLED Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is embroiled in a leadership crisis, has now put all electoral negotiations with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) on hold, said a Sabah PKR leader.
Datuk Seri Christina Liew who lost the PH chairmanship to Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick in the recent Sabah PH election noted that the resolution to their crisis will now depend on the PH presidential council in Putrajaya.
Sabah PKR has opposed the election of Benedick, claiming the post belongs exclusively to PKR under the PH’s framework.
“This decision rests with Putrajaya, and we are still waiting for them to resolve this issue,” she said when met at a Chinese New year function in Kota Kinabalu.
The leadership rift has caused a standstill in discussions about an electoral pact with GRS and seat allocations for the next Sabah state election, which Liew said could happen in just a few months.
“We must first resolve our internal conflict before negotiating with GRS or any other party,” she said, emphasising the importance of unity within PH.
Liew also appealed for political stability, urging all parties to allow the GRS-PH state government to complete its term, which ends this year.
“For now, let the government focus on its work and let the people decide in the next election. Stability benefits the people and the state,” she said.
The election of Benedick, who is also Upko president, has exposed internal divisions within Sabah PH, involving key parties like DAP, Amanah, PKR, and Upko, raising questions about the coalition ahead of the state polls.
Liew also refused to comment on the need for an internal election since PKR insisted the position of PH chair belongs exclusively to PKR.
“I would not like to comment on this. No comment on this issue because I don’t want to make it muddier than it is now.” – January 17, 2025.
