Dead-end or new dawn for PKR in Sabah?

Despite the optimism expressed, it would be foolhardy for Tian and other party leaders to discountorunderestimate the rocky road that surely lies ahead, given the intensely competitive political environmentinSabah and Sarawak.

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysian Mirror

Sabah PKR is not racist and is far from finished.

In fact, with the latest appointment of Ahmad Thamrin Jaini (left) as the state chief, the party is on the cusp of a new beginning despite a recent ruckus kicked up by followers of Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who feared the appointment of Thamrin – an ethnic Malay – was at the expense of their dominant Kadazandusun community.

“There is no such thing. It is utter nonsense and sadly, it comes from certain batu api who are clamouring not for the sake of Sabah but for their own personal political gain,” said PKR national strategy director Tian Chua.

Tian was sent by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to meet Jeffrey and discuss the best ways in which the Sabah leader could still play an active role in their multi-racial party, which hopes to wrest the federal government from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s Umno-BN at the next general election due by 2013.

Jeffrey – a PKR vice-president – and Kota Kinabalu division chief Christina Liew – a supreme council member – had quit their party posts last month amid a storm of negative publicity after it was announced that Thamrin would succeed Azmin Ali, a KL-based leader and a pioneer member of Anwar’s reformasi movement.

Committed to new state line-up

Said Tian: “Jeffrey quit as PKR vice-president but not from the party. As things stand, he is still a member of PKR and for the record,Thamrin is one of Jeffrey’s own loyalists. His appointment had Jeffrey’s okay. So there’s no question of PKR blundering in making Thamrin the new state chief instead of Jeffrey. We believe it is the right decision and we are committed to making the new line-up work.

“We hope Jeffrey will stay with us as he has previously indicated he would. The party has told him many times that it values him and wants him to play a greater national role. He has huge political experience, why not cast the net wider?”

Indeed, Jeffrey – a Harvard graduate – is a household name not just in East Malaysia but also in the peninsula. His brother Joseph Pairin was a former chief minister and Jeffrey himself has been jailed under the infamous Internal Security Act for allegedly plotting to pull Sabah out of Malaysia.

But despite his flamboyance, Jeffrey has so far failed to achieve much success as a politician and as a leader. Political watchers blame his impulsive streak for eroding much of his gifted potential. Certainly, his penchant for party-hopping – including a rejected application to join Umno – has not helped.

Not setting up new party

Latest news reports speculate that he is now about to form a new party of his own – just like disgruntled Sarawak assemblyman Gabriel Adit has threatened to do, although without any success so far.

“Jeffrey told me at our meeting on Friday night that he was not going to form a new party. As far as possible, he would like to stay in PKR and that is what Anwar and the top leadership also wish for. So the question is, how do we make that possible?” Tian said.

“At the end of the day, there is only one way and this is to keep improving the communication and trust channels. I know rumours are flying all over that money is changing hands but that is complete rubbish. We just don’t do things this way. We talk and try our best. Always with the motive of a better Sabah for Sabahans and a greater Malaysia for Malaysians. That’s it.

“On Friday night, we had a long meeting and Jeffrey and his people spoke very frankly. Their top concern was about indifference to their plight and views by the KL leadership. But this is perceived, not real. Anyhow, I will be debriefing the national council on this matter and we will put it on top priority. Other issues were also raised including more party posts for Sabah. So there is a lot that we need to reassess and consequently a lot of room for Sabah PKR to build itself under Thamrin.”

No quick fixes

Despite the optimism expressed, it would be foolhardy for Tian and other party leaders to discount or underestimate the rocky road that surely lies ahead, given the intensely competitive political environment in Sabah and Sarawak.

An unfriendly mainstream media waiting to attack PKR and its Pakatan Rakyat partners DAP and PAS at every opportunity will make the going even tougher.

“It is indeed a volatile environment. The greatest political currency here is still money but the Sabah people are starting to wake up to reforms. We are confident we can make inroads and reach out to the voters,” Tian acknowledged.

Neither does Tian expect the political noise to soften anytime soon even though Jeffrey and his supporters have expressed willingness to look for a way forward together with PKR and Anwar.

“Political bickering takes place in any party. It would not be a political party if there is no politicking or jostling for positions. In many ways, this is the nature of the beast, no doubt its darker side,” said Tian, who is also MP for Batu.

“Just look at MIC, MCA and Umno itself. If in Sabah, the temperature rises more quickly, well, when the going gets tough, the tough will just have to get going. No matter what, we will persevere and continue with our battle to bring reform to the people here and across the nation.”

But however the chips eventually fall, perhaps Jeffrey has more at stake than the PKR. The clock is fast ticking down on him and his latest inability to get cracking can only add to the public misgivings about him.

“Let’s be frank. Jeffrey is no longer the dashing younger brother of Joseph Pairin that we knew and loved in the 80s and 90s,” a Sabah party veteran said.

“Somehow, he has not been able to rise above the fray and shine. Whether he stays in PKR, forms a new party or joins a BN component, he will need to prove to both party colleagues and voters alike that he has finally matured and can be relied on to lead them forward and not round and round in circles.”

Wong Choon Mei is the former chief editor of Suara Keadilan