32. Infighting is common but not this time -Ini kalilah

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227375

PBS in-fighting may see branches close shop

Aidila Razak 5:17PM Apr 19, 2013

Less than 24 hours to nomination day and in-fighting within PBS may see some local branches board up their operations.

This follows the alleged removal of at least two individuals from the final candidates list, purportedly due to pressure from a rival faction.

It is claimed that the individuals were removed from the list, despite it having already obtained endorsement by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Although the situation was remedied yesterday, with the reinstatement of Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association treasurer-general Joseph Latip and New Straits Times Sabah and Sarawak regional editor Joniston Bangkiau as candidates for Inanam and Kiulu, things took a turn for the worse today.

This morning, supreme council member Jornah Mozihim (left) announced that she has quit the party, due to disillusionment with the leadership of president Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

This followed her not making the final candidate list, to contest Matunggong in the place of incumbent Sarapin Magana.

Met at her home near Penampang today, she claimed that since the announcement she has received calls from branch leaders claiming that they would boycott the BN campaign.

“They called me to say that they are dissolving their branches, even before I announced my decision to quit the party.

“I don’t want to mention how many (branches) but I believe more will do so,” she said.

She has also resigned from her post as the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association woman’s bureau chairperson, as well as other posts.

Pairin (centre, shaking hands with Joniston) is the Huguan Siou (paramount leader) of the Kadazan Dusun community.

“I have lost confidence in the top leadership of PBS. Now (PBS deputy chief) Maximus Ongkili is controlling PBS and the president is just a ‘yes man’ to him, even to the detriment of the party,” she said.

Maximus, the incumbent for Kota Marudu where the Matunggong state constituency is located, is also Pairin’s nephew.

Jornah claimed that Pairin himself had informed her last month that her name is on the list which was sent to Kuala Lumpur for endorsement and that no one else was proposed for Matunggong.

Two left out

She said that she is confident that Pairin did not lie to her about this, and that she was made to understand that  her name was still endorsed by Najib.

Jornah, who claims to command grassroots support in Matunggong, is not the only one who is facing the same conundrum.

She claimed that secretary-general Henrynus Amin was also allegedly on the ‘Najib list’ for Kundasang, but Pairin announced that incumbent Joachim Gunsalam will defend the seat.

Jornah, who contested and won the Matunggong seat in 2004, said that she had stayed and campaigned for Serapin despite being sidelined in 2008.

However, she believes that Serapin will not be able to retain his seat this time around as his character has turned off even PBS supporters who have exited the local division in the hundreds since 2010.

Although she has been courted by the opposition, she said she will not contest the polls, not even as an Independent.

But she will be in Matunggong to campaign, but for whom?

“There will be a surprise,” she said.

Malaysiakini’s calls and text message to Maximus were not answered.

However, PBS presented a united front at a press conference to announce the last-minute change of candidates favouring Joseph and Joniston yesterday.

PBS is contesting 12 state seats and four parliamentary seats.