Liew not gunning for Sabah PKR chief post, backs Mustapha for the job

Liew not gunning for Sabah PKR chief post, backs Mustapha for the job

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Christina Liew is not eyeing a return as the state PKR chief.

“No, I do not want to come back. I think it is time for Sabah PKR to get a new leader,” she told reporters on Sunday (April 14) after attending the state level Hari Raya celebrations here.

Liew was commenting on the current crisis, where Liew and 14 other Sabah PKR division chiefs have demanded that the current state chairman Datuk Dr Sangkar Rasam step aside.

There are 26 divisions in Sabah PKR.

Liew – who led Sabah PKR for nearly 20 years before being replaced by Sangkar in 2022 – then said that Sepanggar PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud should replace Sangkar.

She added that she now prefers to help and support the party in Sabah, and added that the current leadership crisis will not break PKR.

“We have been through it before with many leaders coming and going, but PKR remains intact,” said Liew.

The state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said that she is ready to work with whoever is appointed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

She adding that she hopes Anwar’s visit to Sabah for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations on April 20 would resolve the leadership crisis in the state PKR.

“I believe Mustapha has the support of division leaders. (But) whoever is being appointed by the president, we will work together. We are hoping to meet him (Anwar) and listen to his advice.”

Mustapha had told reporters recently that he was ready to take up the Sabah PKR chairman’s post if picked by Anwar.

Embattled Sangkar remains defiant on the move by the 15 division leaders against him.

Sangkar has stated that his appointment was by the PKR president and the move to use statutory declarations to force him to step down was legally wrong and against the party’s constitution.