The lineup of the interim Sabah PKR presidential council has been finalised, and it convened its first meeting at the state party headquarters in Kota Kinabalu today.
According to a statement by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the interim state party chairperson, the council comprises 11 committee members headed by key state party leaders.
“It is a first step towards building a stronger leadership foundation for the party in Sabah with greater emphasis on reaching consensus on key issues,” said Wan Azizah.
The presidential council comprises:
- Finance, Security and Immigration – Ahmad Thamrin Jaini
- Rural Development – James Ghani
- Infrastructure Development – Christina Liew
- Housing and Local Government - Saidil Simoi
- Industrial Development and Forestry - Awang Tengah Awang Amin
- Land Development and Management - Kong Hong Ming
- Health, Family Development and Consumer Affairs - Stephen Sandor
- Sports and Youth - Jafery Jomion
- Tourism, Culture and Environment - Lukiah Indan
- Education, Human Capital Development and IT – Hallik Zaman
- Agriculture and Food Security – Mustapha Tambuyong
Two party supreme council members of Sabah origin - Roland Chia and Darell Leiking - and vice-chief of the national women’s wing Hajjah Sakinah Yusuf are tasked as ex-officio members of the council.
They will act as liaisons between the party’s central and state leadership.
Wan Azizah ( right ) said that she will head the state leadership on a state-wide roadshow to meet party members and kick start the party’s election campaign.
“I believe the interim restructuring of Sabah PKR will provide a new focus that will benefit the Sabahans at large, in anticipation of the next general election,” she said.
Slew of programmes lined up
Wan Azizah said that over the next few months, each committee head will produce a blueprint for Sabah PKR policies and programmes.
“The rakyat of Sabah can expect our party leaders to play more active roles in local and national public discourses to highlight the pleas and woes of Sabahans,” she said.
The council today also touched on Sabah PKR’s launching of the Pakatan Rakyat elections manifesto, dubbed Buku Jingga or the Orange Book, in Kota Kinabalu on February 26.
Also discussed was the organising of a seminar scheduled for March 5 on Sabah PKR’s policies on land, forestry and economic development.
“The series of public engagements will culminate in the Sabah PKR Convention scheduled on April 2, 2011,” said Wan Azizah.
The state presidential council was established following a string of power struggles for the party leadership and the recent defection of state party chairperson Pajudin Nordin on Feb 5.
