Storm Brewing In Sabah Pkr Over Parachute Candidates

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A revolt may be brewing in Sabah PKR, with more than half of the state divisional chiefs accusing party bigwigs from Kuala Lumpur of hijacking their election campaign and imposing handpicked candidates ahead of the state polls.
According to three sources, 17 divisional chiefs and deputies organised a secret meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday night, furious over what they described as a “central takeover” of both machinery and candidate lists.
The meeting began at 8.30pm and ended at 11.15pm. Sabah PKR has 25 divisions.
At the heart of the discontent are “parachute candidates”, referring to outsiders brought in by the central leadership, often with little or no local base, and “dropped” into seats at the expense of grassroots leaders.
Among the “parachute candidates” mentioned is Jamawi Jaafar, a former Tenom assemblyperson who joined Warisan after leaving Umno, before landing in PKR.
Sabah Governor Musa Aman’s son and former Sipitang MP, Yamani Hafez MusaOther candidates mentioned were former Education Ministry secretary-general Ruji Ubi and Yamani Hafez Musa, son of Sabah Governor Musa Aman and former Sipitang MP.
The names came to light after a candidate list, believed leaked by a party insider, went viral on social media, in what many see as an attempt to discredit the central leadership’s picks.
One divisional chief, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned: “If parachutes get the seats, don’t expect our ‘jentera’ (machinery) to move. There will be protests.”
Initially, Sabah PKR leaders mulled contesting 13 seats. The matter was announced by PKR deputy president and Central PKR election director Nurul Izzah Anwar.
However, the number was later revised to seven, with only two divisional chiefs likely to make the cut. The rest, they fear, will be “parachute candidates” like Jamawi, Ruji and Hafez.
“Thirteen seats were always a fantasy. At best, it’s seven, and five of those will be parachutes,” lamented another divisional chief, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Mustapha’s ‘inaction’
Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud is also accused of inaction while the central leadership overrides divisional chiefs.
Some believe PKR president Anwar Ibrahim may not even be privy to the ground reality, alleging reports to him being “filtered” by the central election committee, led by Nurul Izzah and Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, when it comes to election planning and candidate picks.
Sabah PKR chief Mustapha SakmudThe sources also alleged Sabah PKR’s own election team, led by Peto Galim, has been sidelined by the central election team.
“We built our own team, then Kuala Lumpur bulldozed it. Our autonomy means nothing,” another source said.
Malaysiakini has contacted Saifuddin for comments.
Yesterday, Saifuddin admitted that there are “some overlaps” in seat negotiations between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Harapan, and BN, but he insisted the overlaps were “minimal” and would be resolved soon.
The complication is further compounded by PKR working with both GRS and BN separately in Sabah, even as the two coalitions contest against one another in many seats.
The Election Commission will meet on Oct 16 to fix the dates for nomination and polling. - Mkini

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