PETALING JAYA: Sabah DAP Chief Phoong Jin Zhe has denied the existence of a rule stipulating that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairmanship in the state must be held by PKR.
Phoong, instead, stressed that the election of the state PH chief was determined during the coalition’s annual general meeting (AGM) through a democratic process, reported Utusan Malaysia.
“What quota? I’m not aware of any. If there was a (fixed) quota, why hold an AGM? The purpose of an AGM includes electing the leadership. I believe all parties operate similarly, as do NGOs.
This aligns with the laws under the Registrar of Societies,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Christmas event by Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku in Penampang.
Phoong, who also serves as Sabah’s industrial development and entrepreneurship minister, made these remarks in response to a PKR leader’s claim that the appointment of Upko president Ewon Benedick as Sabah PH chairman was not yet final.
Earlier, FMT reported a Sabah PKR leader as saying that the PH chairmanship in the state rightfully belongs to the party, citing a formula that had been agreed to, and adhered to, by its components.
The PKR leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the post should have never been contested in the first place, adding that the election held earlier this month was the first time a poll was held since Sabah PH was formed in 2017.
Traditionally, the Sabah PH components, namely, PKR, DAP, Upko and Amanah would name a PKR leader to chair the coalition’s state chapter, the leader said.
Christina Liew was ousted as the Sabah PH chairman, a post she had held since 2017, after losing to Ewon by three votes on Dec 1. However, there is speculation that Liew could return to head the state chapter.
The source also claimed that Upko and DAP had lobbied “very hard” to oust Liew because she was “not easy to control”.
Phoong today said he did not understand why the election of the PH chairman was being disputed, adding that any concerns should be discussed at the Sabah PH leadership meetings instead of airing it in the media.
“It seems as if there’s an attempt to divide us. Let’s bring these matters to the meeting and discuss them properly.”
