Anwar: 75% of Sabah PKR leaders asked Azizah to drop Pajudin

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim took pains to explain to reporters the resignation yesterday of the party's Sabah chief Pajudin Nordin from the party.

The 40-year-old Pajudin, who became Sabah head of PKR less than a month ago, left the party yesterday, claiming that he was disappointed with the leadership of Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the party president.

He has applied to join Umno.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his two-day visit to Sarawak today, Anwar said:"Azizah was scheduled to go to Sabah this morning. The trip has nothing to do the sudden resignation of Pajudin as it was planned a long time ago.

"Her trip was to meet the divisional leaders of the party in Sabah and to announce the temporarily freeze on Pajudin's appointment as the Sabah chief.

"Before she could make the announcement, he resigned.

"She was supposed to take over the Sabah chief from Pajudin on a temporary basis, possibly for a few months, until things are properly organised," Anwar told a packed press conference.

"Maybe he considered the freeze as a big slap for him so he left," the Opposition leader asserted.

'Three-quarters not in favour'

Anwar said Azizah's temporary appointment was agreed to by the central leadership of the party, but Pajudin took it as an affront and he felt bad, disappointed and dejected.

Anwar said three-quarters of the Sabah PKR leaders had appealed to Azizah not to appoint Pajudin as the Sabah chief.

"They felt that his calibre and credibility as a leader was not up to the mark," he said.

Anwar said Azizah then brought up the grouses of the Sabah leaders to the party political bureau which agreed to form a special committee to deal with the matter upon the request from the Sabah leaders.

"Two weeks ago, we have asked for the views of the central leadership and it agreed that Azizah lead the special committee," he said.

He explained Azizah had proposed Pajudin's name to lead the Sabah PKR not because he was a divisional leader, but it was thought that he could attract young people to the party.

He said the Sabah leaders appealed to Azizah not to appoint Pajudin for a number of reasons.

"I am not giving any excuse for his resignation, and that it is not something we would like to welcome.

"But the facts must be clear, "he said.

Anwar said the party did not face problems when native customary rights (NCR) land lawyer Baru Bian was appointed to be the Sarawak chief.

"There was a general agreement among the party leaders in Sarawak for Baru to the chief.

"They wanted Baru to have a stronger and formidable team, and we said "fair enough" and that was why we agreed. But in Sabah, it was different," he said.

What blow to PKR?

Asked whether Pajudin's resignation was a big blow to PKR, Anwar said sarcastically:"Well, according to Utusan Malaysia, it is."

Sabah PKR leaders expressed surprise and shock when Pajudin was appointed the chief as he was picked from among the branch heads before this.

Pajudin was vice-chief of Tuaran.

Eighteen of the 24 branch heads protested against the appointment. - Malaysiakini