Behind the scenes of breakdown that exacerbated friendly-fire in PN

 

SABAH POLLS | On nomination day of the Sabah election, it emerged that the Perikatan Nasional-BN-PBS alliance, also known Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), will clash in 17 out of 73 seats.

Much of that blame for that has been put on PBS, which at the 11th hour decided to contest in 22 seats instead of its allocated 15, including in seats where BN and PN are already clashing.

This increased the number of clashes from 11 to 17 with 15 of them involving PBS.

PBS deputy president Radin Malleh (above), in an interview, told Malaysiakini that the breakdown was due to tensions with Star president Jeffrey Kitingan.

He said the relationship deteriorated so much amid negotiations that there were incidents where there was a refusal to exchange handshakes and even a walkout.

"I represented PBS and I have to explain to the people on the ground that we did not break our agreement," he said.

Radin explained that on Sept 6, almost a week before nomination day on Sept 12, an agreement had been worked out for Star to contest on PBS' logo.

This would leave PN in Sabah with only two parties, namely Bersatu and SAPP. Furthermore, SAPP is not part of the PN-led federal government and was only co-opted for the Sabah election.

Meanwhile, Umno, MCA and PBRS would stick with their traditional BN logo.

"But on Sept 8, in Putrajaya, I was surprised he (Jeffrey) made a U-turn. He wanted to use the PN logo and was no longer with us. What can I say?" he said.

Radin said Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin also tried to convince PBS to use the PN logo but he said PBS' position was clear from the onset - the PBS flag will once again fly in Sabah.

Radin said PBS took the incident in stride. It was resolved in that meeting that PBS would contest 17 seats even though it had asked for 25. Meanwhile, Bersatu would contest 17 seats, seven for Star and three for SAPP with the remaining 29 given to BN.

"But on Sept 9, during a meeting at Shangri-La Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, it was changed again.

"We were reduced to 15 seats," Radin said. The two seats that were taken away were Liawan and Pintasan which were allocated to Star and Bersatu respectively.

At that meeting, Radin said Jeffrey also demanded for the state seat of Bengkoka, which would reduce PBS' seats to 14.

"It was not a very heated argument but gentlemanly. We said, 'please don't' but he said 'No, no, no, if they don't get it they will still contest (free for all).

"When we left the meeting at 2.15 am (on Sept 10), I shook hands with everyone but when I wanted to shake his hand he didn't want to and turned his face away.

He also noted that Jeffrey had walked out of an earlier negotiation.

Radin added that the situation was complicated by Umno's desire to be dominant by contesting the most seats even though PBS wanted an equal distribution.

"We said in the meetings that we have been reasonable, realistic and practical. We requested constituencies based on our assessment,  strength, service to the people, grassroots, all the aspects," he said.

Radin added that on the eve of nomination day, he also learnt from SAPP president Yong Teck Lee that Umno would also be fielding a candidate in a PBS seat.

The seat was Melalp, the same one that Radin would be contesting in. Umno fielded Jamawi Jaafar, one of the coup conspirators that triggered the snap election.

Considering the circumstances, PBS finally decided to contest in 22 of the 25 seats it had initially requested for instead of the allocated 15.

Malaysiakini has contacted Jeffrey for a response.

Radin is leading PBS' polls effort as election director. PBS president Maximus Johnity Ongkili, who has health problems, is sitting out the election, making Radin the most senior PBS official to contest in the election.

PN is contesting 29 seats comprising 19 for Bersatu, eight for Star and two for SAPP while BN is contesting 41 seats comprising 32 for Umno, five for PBRS and four for MCA.

Campaigning began on Sept 12 and polling day is on Sept 26.

The snap election was triggered after Umno's Musa Aman mounted a failed political coup.

He had gathered enough defectors to make a come back as chief minister but was thwarted by caretaker Sabah chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is also Warisan president.

Shafie secured a dissolution of the state assembly paving the way for fresh polls. - Mkini