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Sabah PBM rift after no-contest decision on 2 PH-held seats
PBM president Larry Sng said several leaders resigned following his suggestion to not contest the seats of Kadamaian and Tanjong Papat
PBM president Larry Sng said he was concerned that the party would be labelled as being anti-PH if the two seats were contested. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Several senior Sabah members of Parti Bangsa Malaysia have quit after party president Larry Sng suggested they not contest two state assembly seats held by Pakatan Harapan leaders.
In a Facebook post today, Sng said PBM had received the resignation of several Sabah party leaders following his suggestion to not contest the seats of Kadamaian and Tanjong Papat as announced at the party’s recent annual meeting in Kota Kinabalu.
He did not name those who resigned.
Sng said the reason for not contesting the seats was that there was a lack of preparedness among the party’s potential candidates. “I am also concerned that the party would be labelled as being anti-PH which is the coalition led by the prime minister who is our friend and ally at the national level,” he said.
Kadamaian is the seat of Upko president Ewon Benedick, who is Sabah PH chairman, while Tanjung Papat is held by DAP’s Frankie Poon.
Sng said he would endorse a contest only in Bandau, with Jupperi Lenson, the Sabah PBM chairman, as the party’s candidate.
He said that the Bandau seat is currently held by Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) deputy president Wetrom Bahanda, who may not seek re-election.
“Since PBM is not privy to any negotiations between PH-Barisan Nasional-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, the decision to contest there was made early on,” Sng said.
On Aug 2, Sng was reported to have said that PBM would be contesting the Sabah state assembly elections likely to be held this year, and would not form any electoral pact with any major coalition for the polls.
The party’s decision to contest on its own was driven by grassroots’ support and PBM’s historical roots in Sabah, he said, adding that among the seats eyed were Bandau, Tanjung Papat and Kadamaian.
“Currently we are finalising the seats and the candidates, but tentatively we are looking at two to three constituencies,” Sng was quoted as saying.
The five-year term of the Sabah state assembly expires on Nov 11, unless dissolved sooner. Elections must be held within 60 days of dissolution.
In a Facebook post today, Sng said PBM had received the resignation of several Sabah party leaders following his suggestion to not contest the seats of Kadamaian and Tanjong Papat as announced at the party’s recent annual meeting in Kota Kinabalu.
He did not name those who resigned.
Sng said the reason for not contesting the seats was that there was a lack of preparedness among the party’s potential candidates. “I am also concerned that the party would be labelled as being anti-PH which is the coalition led by the prime minister who is our friend and ally at the national level,” he said.
Kadamaian is the seat of Upko president Ewon Benedick, who is Sabah PH chairman, while Tanjung Papat is held by DAP’s Frankie Poon.
Sng said he would endorse a contest only in Bandau, with Jupperi Lenson, the Sabah PBM chairman, as the party’s candidate.
He said that the Bandau seat is currently held by Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) deputy president Wetrom Bahanda, who may not seek re-election.
“Since PBM is not privy to any negotiations between PH-Barisan Nasional-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, the decision to contest there was made early on,” Sng said.
On Aug 2, Sng was reported to have said that PBM would be contesting the Sabah state assembly elections likely to be held this year, and would not form any electoral pact with any major coalition for the polls.
The party’s decision to contest on its own was driven by grassroots’ support and PBM’s historical roots in Sabah, he said, adding that among the seats eyed were Bandau, Tanjung Papat and Kadamaian.
“Currently we are finalising the seats and the candidates, but tentatively we are looking at two to three constituencies,” Sng was quoted as saying.
The five-year term of the Sabah state assembly expires on Nov 11, unless dissolved sooner. Elections must be held within 60 days of dissolution.
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