More to quit Sabah PKR?

KUALA LUMPUR:  Matunggong assemblyman Jelani Hamdan claims that at least 20 to 25 Sabah PKR leaders from their respective divisions are expected to quit the party in a second wave of resignation.

Sabah PKR is simmering with widespread dissatisfaction following the 13th general election.

Jelani, together with  11 Sabah PKR divisional have thrown their support behind Barisan Nasional, claiming too much interference from national PKR leaders.

“We’ve lost confidence in the PKR leadership at the federal and state levels. Although Sabah PKR was given the autonomy, ironically, the authority comes from an individual,” he told reporters after their resignation from the PKR was announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak here yesterday.

Among those who quit were 10 division chiefs and one division information chief.

Jelani, who was their spokesman, said the autonomy proclaimed by the PKR leadership was never practised, including in the appointment of opposition chief and State Leadership Council members.

Jelani claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim meddled in the party’s state administration.

Jelani and Kadamaian assemblyman Jeremy Malajad left the party earlier on Nov 4.

Jelani also dismissed Anwar’s claim that Malajad and him were bought over by the BN as the coalition had won a two-thirds majority in Sabah in the last general election.

Asked about this, Jelani said, “From his (Anwar’s) text message, he’s disappointed. It’s normal. He says we’ve got a better offer from another side.”

Jelani pledged the group’s support for the BN, but was still undecided whether to join any BN component party or form a new party.

On the proposed amendment to the PKR Constitution that one of the three PKR vice-presidents must come from either Sabah or Sarawak, Jelani said:

“You can make amendments, but whether they are implemented is another matter.

“Maybe just on paper. This is happening at the state level.”

Bernama