Trouble brews in Sabah PKR

ARCHIVES 2011

By MT Webmaster On Jan 5, 2011

(BERNAMA) – Trouble is brewing in the Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as 15 of 25 division heads have expressed no confidence in the leadership of state PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini.

They have urged the central leadership to instead appoint Ansari Abdullah to ensure the state PKR becomes a force to be reckoned with in the coming general election.

Concidentally, the call was made hours before former PKR vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan officially announced his resignation from the party here.

A spokesman for the group, Anthony Mandiau, who is also Kota Marudu division head, said the 15 division heads were frustrated over the manner Ahmad Thamrin administered PKR in his capacity as state chief over the past year.

“He (Ahmad Thamrin) has done absolutely nothing in steering the party. As state chief, he has no halatuju (direction) and has failed miserably and in fact, weakened Sabah PKR,” he told reporters at a news conference here today.

Anthony said, as state leader, it was imperative Ahmad Thamrin formulate and implement strategies to spearhead Sabah PKR to make it a formidable coalition partner of Sabah Pakatan Rakyat.

“If this persists, Sabah PKR may end up in the history books as a party which failed to live up to the aspirations of the people.

“We will not allow our future generations to suffer due to the incompetence Of such a leader. We are sending a clear and unanimous message to the central leadership that our agreed choice to head Sabah PKR is Ansari Abdullah,” he said.

Anthony said the state PKR had been in disarray for the past year and the time had come for divisional leaders to be focused and steadfast.

“We fully acknowledge Ansari as the most capable, visionary and loyal leader to spearhead Sabah PKR,” he said, adding

that it was understood PKR secretary-general Saifudin Nasution would chair a meeting with all division heads at 3pm tomorrow.

This, he noted, was in pursuant towards the appointment of the state chief, and the intention of the 15 division heads had been relayed to the party president (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail), via a letter on Jan 4.

He said: “This is what autonomy means, we decide and we have decided”.

Asked on their next move should the central leadership retain Ahmad Thamrin as state PKR chief, Anthony said the group had yet to discuss such an eventuality.

Meanwhile, Ansari told Bernama he would leave it to the party leadership to decide on the matter.

“I’m a life member of PKR. I will serve the party in whatever capacity entrusted to me. I will abide by whatever decision of the party leadership,” he said.