Troubled Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) should hold electoral negotiations with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) only after the alliance resolved its own matters, said Sabah PKR leader Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
Liew, who lost the Sabah PH chairmanship to Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick in an election, said resolution to the Sabah PH chief tussle now rests with the PH presidential council in Putrajaya.
“We first have to settle our internal then we will negotiate with the GRS or any other party if there’s anybody who wants to negotiate and work with us,” Liew said at a Chinese New Year luncheon held in Kota Kinabalu, Thursday.
Sabah PKR had opposed Benedick’s appointment, arguing that the PH chairmanship should exclusively belong to the party under the coalition’s framework.
Liew said PH must first address its internal issues before moving forward with negotiations when questioned over the stalled seat negotiations with GRS.
Citing political conflicts as normal, Liew appealed for political stability, urging the GRS-PH coalition government to be allowed to complete its term, which ends this year.
“For now, let the government focus on its work and let the people decide in the next election. Stability benefits the people and the state,” she added.
Benedick’s position as the new Sabah PH chief came under scrutiny after Sabah PKR opposed his leadership, citing the seat rightfully belonged to PKR.
Benedick took the post after winning an internal election against Liew in December last year.
The matter is now stalling talks between Sabah PH and GRS for contesting as a team in the upcoming Sabah election.
At the same time, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar had also noted that Sabah PH should emulate the BN and PH formula at the federal level.
Sabah PH is seen as refusing to return the invitation, instead they were seen likely to form of a pact with GRS.
Ties between BN and GRS sour when BN withdraw their support from GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the state political crisis in 2023.
When questioned about the need for an election if PKR believes the chairmanship belongs to the party, Liew declined to comment.
“I would not like to comment on this. No comment on this issue because I don’t want to make it muddier than it is now,” she said. – January 16, 2025.
