KOTA KINABALU: Keen tussles are shaping up for various PKR posts in 26 divisions in the state, including Labuan.
Nomination for the Sabah PKR election is slated for Aug 28 and 29 while polling day is either Sept 18 or 19.
This will be a landmark party election in Malaysia as it is the first time that all members of a political party will elect their party leaders by direct voting.
All the other parties, including PKR's partners in Pakatan Rakyat -- DAP and PAS -- still practise the old way of electing political leaders through the representative democracy system.
Under this system, members nominate a small number of delegates to general meetings where the latter will elect the office-bearers.
Most of the divisions have more than 2,000 members, which means it is a huge task to run the election smoothly.
While Sabah PKR leaders are reluctant to admit there exist factions, observers and party insiders said a tussle between two groups, pro-Jeffrey Kitingan and pro-Ansari Abdullah, is on the cards in the election.
"Lieutenants of both Jeffrey and Ansari have been busy holding meetings and discussions. A party insider said the group with the most divisional heads aligned to it is likely to see its man elected as chairman of the PKR state leadership council," an insider said.
PKR policy, rather than constitution, dictates that divisional heads alone will elect, through the ballot paper, their state chief later.
The post is currently held by Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, who was appointed by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
"It is an open secret that those in Jeffrey’s circle are Christina Liew, Daniel John Jambun, Edward Linggu, Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari, Mozes Iking, Saidil SimoiI, Jalumin Bayogo, Innocent Makajil and Sylvester Balon.
“Those in Ansari's camp are Halik Zaman, Jonathan Yasin, Roland Chia, Kong Hong Ming, Hamzah Amir, Anthony Mandiau, Mursalim Tanjul, Paul Kuliling and Danny Andipai.
“All are either seeking to become or remain divisional head," another party insider told FMT.
There are, however, many other aspirants who want to appear "neutral or non-committal" and among those in this group are John Ghani, James Ghani, Awang Tangah Awang Amin, Nahalan Damsal and a few others.
Friendly match
Interestingly enough, Saidil and Jalumin will have a "friendly" match in Kota Belud division. However, a third aspirant may appear in the person of Shukor Momin, who is believed to be aligned to Ansari.
It is learnt that Jeffrey, who currently heads the Keningau division, will move to Pensiangan and will likely take on Andipai, a strong ally of Ansari in the interior.
Mozes, who stood against Joseph Pairin Kitingan in Tambunan in the last general election, is tipped to stand in the Keningau division but would be challenged by John Jinus Sibin, who is seen as a Ansari proxy.
Ansari, the incumbent Tuaran head, himself will be challenged by Tamparuli ex-assemblyman, Edward Linggu in a keenly awaited tussle.
Distribution of nomination papers, from Kuala Lumpur, in all the divisions began a few days ago.
An in-house "election committee" from PKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur will conduct the election, assisted by the state leadership council.
Meanwhile, ex-Sabah PKR state liaison secretary, Kanul Gindol, when contacted by FMT, said "the party election will show how PKR leaders behave and if some leaders will keep their reputation, good or bad".
"The result of the PKR party election here will also determine the direction Sabah PKR takes -- whether it will be free of Kuala Lumpur or led by the nose...," Gindol added.
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