KOTA KINABALU – Sabah PKR is facing an internal crisis, again.
The party is split between its dismay over a recent move by chief Datuk Christina Liew and support for Warisan.
Last month, 17 of the 26 PKR divisions in Sabah and Labuan had, during an annual general meeting (AGM), called for the state chapter’s top leadership to end cooperation with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Warisan.
The Sabah PKR leadership, headed by Liew, and several division leaders appear to go against this call, with division leaders finding that their proposals to the state council leadership were altered.
In a document sighted by The Vibes, the state leadership has decided to change its stance and maintain cooperation with Warisan, but ended cooperation with Dr Mahathir.
Sabah PKR Youth information chief Razeef Rakimin confirmed this, causing dissatisfaction among many division leaders.
“Other than the 17 divisions that wanted to end cooperation with Warisan, five did not make any stand in their AGMs, while four have yet to organise theirs.
“But obviously, the majority of the divisions have called for an end to cooperation with Warisan.”
In the Pakatan Harapan coalition, PKR is also in cooperation with Amanah and DAP, and severing ties with Warisan may see Sabah PH in limbo.
Hence, in its effort to maintain cooperation with Warisan, Sabah PKR removed Simsuddin Sidek as state party information chief.
When contacted, Simsuddin confirmed his removal and believed he was punished over a statement he made last month, indicating that the 17 division leaders opposed working with Warisan.
The state PKR secretary was also told to take a back seat, and was replaced by Tuaran Wanita chief Chrisnadia Sinam.
Chrisnadia was also appointed as the new information chief and cited to speak in the PKR national congress.
However, Simsuddin said: “We believe Chrisnadia will not speak about our call,”
A formal complaint has been lodged by Razeef to the state party discipline bureau regarding the turn of events, but Liew has yet to comment. – The Vibes, May 31, 2021