A cloud of anxiety has settled over eight divisions aligned to Libaran chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, the controversial Sabah PKR head, over the prospects of a peace plan not going their way.

Why is Keningau division chief Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan quiet after saying that he has burnt his bridges? Why doesn't he leave? These are some questions uppermost in their minds.

"The party rank and file," claims former Libaran chief Hassanar Ebrahim, "is demanding Jeffrey be booted out as soon as possible".

They also want at least eight of the 15 other rebel division chiefs aligned to Jeffrey to be sacked as well.

NONE Kota Kinabalu division chief Christina Liew ( left ), who reportedly has the ear of party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is one of the Jeffrey loyalists spared by the Thamrin faction.

"Christina has just been misled by Jeffrey," said Hassanar.

Hassanar, who admits eyeing the Batu Sapi division chief's post held by Jeffrey loyalist Nahalan Damsal, was clarifying a spate of statements in the media and cyberspace attributed to him.

He is noted in Sabah for being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for a spell after admitting placing 15,000 illegal immigrants on the electoral rolls.

Hassanar fears 'World War III' (in Sabah PKR) if Jeffrey does not leave by the time of the state convention on Dec 20.

"Jeffrey may appear to be nice and angelic looking, smiling all the time but he's the one responsible for the upheavals in Sabah PKR and all the parties he has been in thus far," he pointed out.

Hassanar asked rhetorically: "You tell me what is wrong with Ansari? (Tuaran division chief)."

After Awang Tengah's term was cut short by party advisor Anwar Ibrahim and Ansari was appointed the fourth state chief, Jeffrey campaigned against him and finally he had to leave, said Hassanar.

"Of course, if you ask him (Jeffrey), he will deny it, " he added.

Awang Tengah's departure, according to Hassanar, was based on evidence that "he was an Umno mole planted in Sabah PKR".

Awang Tengah, the Kimanis division chief, is a Jeffrey loyalist. Ansari Abdullah had always maintained that he did not resign, although he "offered to resign" nor was he booted out.

pkr national congress 301108 azmin ali He also denied that that there was any rebellion against him while he was state chief. His take, which has been disputed by many, is that he finished his term and left.

Hassanar claimed that what happened subsequently to ousted Azmin Ali ( right ) and what is now happening to Thamrin is history repeating itself.

"I can tell you that we will have no peace in Sabah PKR if Jeffrey is still with us," said Hassanar.

"I agree with his emphasis on Sabah rights. Who wouldn't?

"But he should leave the party after saying he has burnt his bridges and not continue to issue ultimatums to the party."

He said Kuala Lumpur should not fear that PKR will collapse in Sabah and Sarawak if Jeffrey leaves, in fact, more people will be attracted to the party just because he's gone.

Digging in against Jeffrey

Hassanar was asked about the Thamrin faction's sudden interest in hastening Jeffrey's departure from the party after appealing to him to re-consider his decision to quit as vice-president.

"I met (in KL) with various people over three days," said Hassanar. "We have an inkling of what is to come in the peace plan."

"If KL wants to drop Thamrin, we will not agree. We also do not agree to Jeffrey being the state chief or the chief minister," fumed Hassanar who fears that PKR headquarters may be on the verge of capitulating to Jeffrey. "He can go to KL, if he wants, as a federal minister."

Hassanar declined to say who he met with in Kuala Lumpur. It is learnt that he met with PKR director of strategies Tian Chua among others and also recruited a former Suara Keadilan editor to be his faction's publicist.

Jeffrey ( below ), contacted in Tambunan, laughingly pointed out that "by talking about posts, Hassanar is behaving as if we (PKR) have won the elections".

dr jeffrey kitingan Also, he should not be going around making public statements on the peace plan when Kuala Lumpur has specifically cautioned both sides, he said.

He added that the peace plan is not about posts, pointing out that Thamrin is not mentioned in the peace plan and the issue was never raised, only the undemocratic manner in which the appointment was done.

"The peace plan is about democracy in the party, about principles and priorities. We never issued any ultimatums to KL as claimed by Hassanar and the other side."

He refused to comment on speculation that a letter from the party headquarters was on the way to him in response to the Sabah PKR 'Proposals for Change and Reform' drawn up by the rebel division chiefs aligned to him.

The rebel division chiefs had demanded a commitment from the party headquarters in writing, pending amendments to the party constitution.

"Being still in the party and my 'burn the bridges' statement is not a contradiction," said Jeffrey.

"I still stand by my statement. KL asked us to stay back to give the peace plan a chance. 'Burn the bridges' means that we must operate in Sabah independently of KL."

The proposals by the rebel division chiefs is the key component in the peace plan, reportedly suggested by senior PKR leader Chua Jui Meng.

The plan was brought back to Kuala Lumpur by Tian Chua and peace emissary Michael Bong about three weeks ago after a lightning visit to Kota Kinabalu.

Among others, besides being independent of Kuala Lumpur, the rebel division chiefs want all party posts including the state chief to be elected and the Tambunan Declaration to be formally accepted by PKR.

The declaration is about Sabah rights, the 20 Points and compliance with the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.