PENAMPANG - PKR appears to be unperturbed by speculations of its members quitting the party in Sabah.
Its national deputy secretary general Darell Leiking has wished all those planning to leave the party “good luck”.
Leiking when contacted about the purportedly looming departure of 12 of its 25 Ketua Cabang or divisional heads in Sabah, said so far it is still “just a rumour”.
“I am sure it is just rumour or from people who are claiming they are office bearers. As for me, if it is true, well we wish them good luck and thank them for their services,” he said in Penampang.
Two weeks ago PKR’s Kadamaian assemblyman, Jeremmy Ukoh Malajad, became PKR first assemblyman to quit the opposition party after the May general election.
Malajad also straight away pledged his support for the ruling Umno-led coalition of Barisan Nasional. He is now poised to join Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), one of the smallest parties in BN.
PKR’s Matunggong assemblyman, Jelani Hamdan, who was also Sabah PKR vice chairman, then followed suit last week.
Jelani said he could “no longer” work with Sabah PKR chief Lajim Ukin and questioned the latter’s appointment.
Leiking, who as the MP for Penampang, meanwhile sees a brighter side to the “looming” departure of more PKR leaders.
“It gives us a chance to revamp our party and to ensure that the cause for justice will not be lost with all these drama,” he added.
Amending party constitution
Meanwhile state PKR secretary James Ghani said yesterday that the party was proposing to amend its constitution in view of recent rumblings.
“We will be amending the party constitution in the next national congress on Nov 24.
“We will propose that the state PKR chief is appointed as the vice president, meaning there will be three people holding that post namely in Sabah, Sarawak and West Malaysia.
“This means the state PKR has the autonomy to appoint its own leaders, without any interference from Kuala Lumpur.
“This is among the agenda pursued by Lajim when he took over as the state chief this year.
“This is the autonomy we have been talking about, and it is far better than Umno,” he reportedly said.
He also pointed out that Jelani had no right to question Lajim’s appointment as Sabah PKR chief.
“The party constitution states that only the branch chiefs have the right to make decisions and choose who should lead the party in Sabah.
“Jelani is just a YB. He has no right to make any decision.
“The decision to appoint Lajim to head the Sabah PKR was made through the consensus of all branch chiefs,” Ghani said adding that 21 branch leaders had backed Lajim.
By Luke Rintod
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