State chapter has no power to reprimand members, says Rahimah

Sabah PKR women’s chief Rahimah Majid says a good government should take ‘criticism that is progressive’ positively.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR women’s chief Rahimah Majid has defended her criticism of the Sabah government , saying she “meant well” in expressing her views over the state Water Department director fiasco.

She also said that the state PKR disciplinary bureau has no locus standi to reprimand her for criticising the Sabah government.

“I have said my piece. It’s up to them (the Sabah government) to take it positively. I meant well.

“A good government should take criticism that is progressive,” she told FMT.

On Tuesday, state PKR disciplinary bureau chief Sazalye Donol said action would be taken against Rahimah for criticising Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal and the Sabah government for defying the Sabah High Court’s declaration that the appointment of Amarjit Singh as the Sabah Water Department director was unlawful.

Amarjit  says he has been told by the state Cabinet to stay in his position.

Sabah PKR felt that Rahimah should have expressed her views through the right channels as the party is part of the ruling coalition in Sabah.

According to Rahimah, the state PKR has no ground to take action against her as the party’s constitution does not give such powers to state chapters.

Citing Clause 41 of the PKR constitution, only the central leadership councIl is authorised to form a disciplinary board and probe any party member’s wrongdoing.

“Only the party’s central leadership has the right to suspend or expel party members for any breach of party rules, not state chapters” she said. - FMT