A Sabah Bersatu leader has scoffed at a PAS delegate’s proposal for state PAS chief Aliakbar Gulasan to be named as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Sabah state election.
Nabila Norsahar, head of Sabah Bersatu’s young women’s wing, pointed out that PAS had never won a seat in Sabah until now, and that Aliakbar was appointed as a nominated assemblyman.
“This appointed assemblyman has yet to prove himself by obtaining the people’s mandate in an election, much less aspire to be chief minister,” she told FMT.
Nabila said PAS should prove its capability by first winning seats at the polls before making such a proposal.
She was responding to a Shah Alam PAS leader who floated the proposal at the Islamic party’s muktamar in Alor Setar, Kedah, today.
Sukri Omar, the former Selangor PAS Youth chief, said PAS deserves a chance to lead Perikatan Nasional in the state polls, suggesting that Aliakbar lead the charge.
Nabila said the proposal did not reflect Sabah’s political realities, urging all PN components to act maturely and rationally in submitting proposals involving leadership in the Bornean state.
She expressed concern that the proposal could even backfire and affect PN’s chances in the state election.
“It’s best if we leave it to the central PN leadership to decide on the best Sabah chief ministerial candidate that we can offer,” she said.
Separately, Sabah Bersatu deputy chief Affan Jumahat said the question of PN’s Sabah chief ministerial candidate would be decided by the coalition’s Supreme Council “at the right time”.
He nonetheless did not reject the proposal from PAS, saying Sabah PN always welcome the views of its components.
