KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew has been dropped from the party’s candidates’ list of 10 contenders for the Nov 29 Sabah Election.
The incumbent Api-Api assemblyman was dropped and taking her place is Thonny Chee, the state government-linked Sri Pelacongan chief executive officer.
Former Sipitang MP Datuk Yamani Hafez Musa and retired senior civil servant Datuk Ruji Ubi will also be among the PKR candidates in the fray.
Yamani Hafez, who is the son of Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman, will contest the Sindumin state seat held by GRS’ Datuk Yusof Yacob.
Ruji, seen as a rising star in Sabah PKR, will contest the Merotai seat, which is held by Warisan’s Sarifuddin Hata.
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Datuk Jamawi Jaafar was named as the candidate for Melalap while George Hiew will defend Karamunting.
Both Hiew and Jamawi were part of Gagasan Rakyat but joined PKR to contest under a Pakatan ticket.
Former Putatan MP Datuk Awang Husaini Sahari is contesting the Petagas seat and could go up against his elder brother Ahmad Awang Sah. Ahmad Awang won the seat under Barisan Nasional but later defected to Gagasan Rakyat.
Sabah PKR deputy chief Datuk Peto Galim has been retained in Inanam, while Tulid will be contested by Datin Rufinah Pengeran, Romansa Lamin (Segama) and Abdul Said Pimping (Gum-Gum).
PKR president and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) said the coalition would contest around 23 seats – not with the intention of forming the government but to work closely with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional to have stronger representation in the federal government.
He said Pakatan wants to build a new Sabahas well as stop mismanagement and corruption.
Anwar said Sabah was unique, quipping that the state with “the most parties in the world.”
“This is a democratic nation, so whoever wants to contest can do so,” he said.
On issues of state rights, he said the Madani government might have weaknesses but was doing its best for the people.
“Yes, there were developments in the past but we are not happy,” he said, adding that leaders who talked about the issue of 40% net revenue owed to the state and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), were once part of both state and federal governments.
Anwar reiterated that negotiations on the 40% net revenue were “aggressive”, involving partners from Sabah, Sarawak and the federal government.
“Ask former prime ministers who come here, ask them how much they approved and gave to Sabah,” he said.
Anwar said former leaders accusing the Madani government of not taking care of the people include those who made themselves rich from the state.
“As for the MA63, try to look back on these past two years, we have given back powers in many aspects to Sabah and Sarawak. Who gave them back? The Madani government was the one who gave it back,” he said.
Earlier, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud reminded candidates not to repeat the mistakes of past leaders.
He said the candidates chosen were the “Prime Minister’s candidates”.
“Please uphold the reformasi agenda when you win the election… We do not only want to win but to bring changes to the state,” he said.
Earlier in the event, Pakatan also launched their official song for the state election.
