By Luke Rintod
KOTA KINABALU: The recommendation by the PKR hierarchy to suspend 12 of its Sabah leaders has been met with silence here. But the ordinary party members and opposition supporters, however, are waiting to see how party leaders in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur will treat what most here see as PKR shooting itself in the foot.
"They are all waiting for the other shoe to drop," said a veteran political observer following the PKR disciplinary committee’s recommendation that the 12 be suspended for a year over their role in setting up Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) last year.
The 12 have received the news of their impending one-year suspension calmly and have refused to talk about their next course of action.
It may also be too early to speculate if the move will affect PKR's strength in Sabah.
But what is certain is that the will of the 12, all aligned to Jeffrey Kitingan, to pursue their case, is on the verge of breaking.
Sources here said that at least some of the 12 are considering writing appeal letters.
They are believed to have been advised to do so by Jeffrey, who met PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim during a political bureau meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night..
Efforts to reach Jeffrey failed while the 12 are refusing to talk before they meet their mentor. Jeffrey was to have returned to Sabah late last night.
Two camps
Meanwhile, reactions from PKR grassroots members here have been mixed.
Supporters of Jeffrey are divided, with one group saying they should appeal right away to Anwar if the supreme council upholds the recommendation on Sunday, and stay with PKR.
But another group is against it even if the Sunday meeting adopted the suspension. They prefer Jeffrey, Christina Liew and the 12 to leave PKR and continue their struggle in a more friendly political party.
"Why appeal? Clearly this saga is yet another proof to Sabahans that Anwar has an agenda against them, especially the non-Muslims.
"If the 12 do appeal, where are they going to put their face? This too will only embolden Anwar and future leaders to adopt a condescending attitude just like Umno leaders," said a party member, who only wanted to be known as Francis.
The news of the suspension was, however, met with euphoria in the other corner of Sabah PKR.
Masikung Maluk is happy if the 12 are to be suspended. "They should go ahead with registering their PCS now. Or they can leave PKR and join DAP," he said.
It is an open secret that Sabah PKR is divided into two camps – one is the "the autonomy group" or "freedom fighter group" aka "Jeffrey group", while the other is the "the cium tangan group" or "Ansari group" aka "Azmin group".
Members puzzled
Ordinary members are puzzled and have questioned the timing and speed of the disciplinary committee in recommending a one-year suspension against the 12 when the inquiry was only held on Wednesday in Kota Kinabalu.
"If it is true the committee has recommended such a suspension (in such a short time), then it is unbelievable...
"It could well give credence to belief that everything is pre-planned by Kuala Lumpur to deny Jeffrey a chance to lead PKR in Sabah," Francis of Papar said, adding that there are many other disciplinary cases that the party should have paid attention to.
"We can name a few cases that have brought the party to public disrepute. What about Anwar's own sodomy case? Why is PKR not carrying out its own investigation?" he asked.
Under a reformed PKR, the state liaison chief will be elected by divisional heads, and Jeffrey’s group is said to be increasingly popular among members, bolstered by their solid and consistent stand on state rights and autonomy vis-a-vis state-federal relationship.
At least seven or eight of the 12 are eyeing to retain or seek top divisional posts in party elections slated for next month.
In fact, they had been busy preparing for party elections when the PCS issue, considered solved last year, was suddenly resurrected last month against them.
The 12, who are all aligned to Jeffrey, are Daniel John Jambun, Awang Ahmad Sah, Moses @ Mozes Michael Iking, Nicholas James Guntobon, Paul Kerangkas, Slyvester @ Balon Mujim, Innocent Makajil, Nasir Samie, Harry Kujukok Manisit, Rubbin Guribah, Gosibin Yosundang and Guandee Kohoi.
The PCS was mooted by some Sabah PKR leaders following a massive fallout between Jeffrey and fellow vice-president Azmin Ali, who was made Sabah PKR chief replacing Anwar, who had held the post of Sabah and Sarawak chief for a few months.
However, under a peace plan initiated by the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Jeffrey was made responsible for both Sabah and Sarawak and another person was put in charge of the state. Azmin was removed from the state line-up.
Most observers believed that the hastily cobbled peace deal had papered over the rift and there would be no witch-hunt against those who had allegedly plotted against the party at that time by aligning themselves with Jeffrey.
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