PKR Sabah should have full autonomy

“However, it doesn’t mean that PKR would become two separate entities, but rather, Sabah PKR will continue reporting to central leaders.

KOTA KINABALU: All political decisions regarding Sabah should be made by local PKR leaders in order for people to be confident and accepting of the party, said its sole MP Darell Leiking.

“Sabah should have full autonomy when it comes to administrating our state party.

“However, it doesn’t mean that PKR would become two separate entities, but rather, Sabah PKR will continue reporting to central leaders.

“This is a habit that goes hand in hand with the Malaysia agreement 1964, whereby Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia but are allowed to operate as an individual entity,” said Leiking who is also PKR deputy secretary general.

The Penampang MP however said putting this mindset in place was the problem.

“Conundrums such as logistics and money are difficulties that can be overcome, but to agree to a consensus of autonomy would require everyone putting aside their ego and political pride, which is a challenge,” he said.

PKR vice president Tian Chua had recently said that the question of whether Sabah should disengage from a political framework or given autonomy in a national framework was a constant debate within PKR.

If PKR were to be able to get past their problems, Sabah would be able to give Umno a run for their money, Tian Chua said.

Leiking echoed the sentiment, lamenting that the opposition might have won more seats in the 13th general election had it not been for mixed signals received by the people.

During the last general election in 2013, several contesting seats in Sabah had Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) coalition parties running against each other.

The public tussle had PAS, PKR and DAP fighting over states such as Batu Sapi, Tawau and Labuan.

The phenomena had sent mixed messages to Sabahans, who were under the impression that the coalition was not really united.

“If the people are able to realise that political decisions are being made independently by Sabah PKR or even DAP, I have no doubt at all that we will win big in the next round of elections,” said Leiking.

FMT Borneo Plus