SABAH PKR DEALT ANOTHER BLOW AS CHRISTINA LIEW QUITS POST...

(Published on: Thursday, October 29, 2009 Daily Express)

Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has resigned as a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and has not ruled out the possibility of rejoining Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by his elder brother Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

"At the moment, I will leave my options open. I will decide when the right time comes," he said here.

Dr Jeffrey was asked to comment on whether he would consider rejoining PBS, a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

He said he would consult other PKR divisional chiefs, his supporters and grassroots leaders before making a final decision on the matter.

"I'm in no rush to make decision or to decide our next course of action," he said. Dr Jeffrey had also resigned as a member of the party's supreme council and the political bureau.

Asked whether Dr Jeffrey was ready to team up with former Sabah PKR Deputy Chairman Christina Liew, who had also resigned as a Supreme Council member, to pursue their political careers, he said: "Yes, we will work together".

Dr Jeffrey's resignation is seen as having dealt a major blow to PKR's attempt to strengthen itself in Sabah.

Dr Jeffrey, who is expected to send the resignation letter to the party headquarters by Wednesday, will remain as an ordinary member of the party, according to his former aide Kanul Gindol.

It is believed that many of the division chiefs, including Dr Jeffrey himself, were disappointed with the decision of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appoint Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as the party's new chief in Sabah.

Sabahan Ahmad Thamrin was named as the new state PKR chief last weekend after a group of division chiefs expressed no-confidence in PKR vice-president Azmin Ali leading the state PKR.

The resignation of Liew as a Supreme Council member is also seen as a setback for PKR. Liew, who is Kota Kinabalu division chief, announced her resignation as a Supreme Council member Wednesday, following in the footsteps of Dr Jeffrey.

Liew said, however, that she would remain as a party member and retain the post of Kota Kinabalu division chief.

"I will be submitting my resignation letter to the party president today," she said.

Liew said she had always believed that the party was fair and transparent, until the appointment of Datuk Kong Hong Ming as PKR Sabah Deputy Chairman and Ahmad Thamrin as the party's new chief in Sabah.

"My mum (mother) had to take the public humiliation of me being replaced (as deputy chairman) for unknown reasons. I worked so hard for the last nine years to promote Sabah PKR.

"Since the party has disregarded my contribution, I will bow out with dignity now," she said.

PBS Secretary-General Datuk Radin Malleh said the party did not want to speculate on Dr Jeffrey rejoining it.