Anwar Ibrahim has been appointed PKR’s state chief for both Sabah and Sarawak - the two frontline states for the opposition party.

pkr national congress 301108 anwar ibrahim According to PKR, his appointment as state chief for the two states is to show the party’s commitment to Sabah and Sarawak, both of which have complained of being marginalised and ignored by the federal government.

“Recognising that the welfare of Sabah and Sarawak has long been sidelined by the Barisan Nasional government, the selection of Anwar as the state liaison chairperson is the right move to ensure a change occurs as well as to show PKR’s commitment in championing the struggles of the people - from Perlis to Sabah and Sarawak,” said party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in a statement today.

Both states, which together have one-quarter of MPs in Parliament, are to play a key role in PKR’s ambition to oust BN from Putrajaya.

Moreover, Sarawak is expected to hold its state election either next year or 2010, and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who has been in power for 27 years in the state, looks vulnerable.

Ex-Umno deputy minister heads Pahang

The new line-up in PKR is part of a party reshuffle which saw the appointment of a number of new state chiefs.

Among them is Fauzi Abdul Rahman, a former Umno deputy defence minister and ex-parliamentarian of Kuantan, who has been tapped to lead Pahang.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has been given the added task of heading Kuala Lumpur in addition to Selangor.

Wan Azizah said that the new state line-up was decided by the party’s supreme council at a meeting last Thursday.

The following is the list of PKR’s state chiefs:

Perlis - Johari Shafie

Penang - Zahrain Mohamed Hashim

Kedah - Ahmad Kassim

Perak - Osman Abdul Rahman

Kelantan - Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir

Terengganu - Wan Rahim Wan Hamzah

Pahang - Fauzi Abdul Rahman

Selangor/Wilayah Persekutuan - Abdul Khalid Ibrahim

Negeri Sembilan - Kamarul Baharin Abbas

Malacca - Khalid Jaafar

Johor - Dr Zaliha Mustaffa

Sabah/Sarawak - Anwar Ibrahim