There were no surprises in the partial line-up announced this afternoon in Kota Kinabalu by Sabah PKR head Ahmad Thamrin Jaini.

As expected Kota Kinabalu division chief Christina Liew vaulted over her ambitious Tawau counterpart Kong Hong Ming. Both are locked in a fierce personal battle for the Chinese vote.

In a first for women, Liew has become the sole deputy state chief under the new party constitution.

NONE Liew ( left ), nearly a decade with the party, was formerly one of three deputy state chiefs (now known as vice-chiefs). She had been removed by ousted state chief Azmin Ali, who drafted in Kong as her replacement.

The only other main announcement was that Kimanis division chief Awang Tengah is one of the three vice-chiefs. Keeping him company is incumbent Kong and expelled Umno leader John Ghani.

Awang Tengah's entrance sees the exit of Kalabakan division chief Hamzah Amir who was appointed by Azmin.

Azmin had wanted Hamzah as his replacement, but this was shot down by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim who brought in Thamrin instead.

It is not known when the rest of the line-up will be announced. Thamrin gave no indication, beyond saying "just wait". The speculation is that another announcement will be made soon.

Incumbents retained

Incumbents who still remain in their posts are secretary Mursalim Tanjul, information chief Jonathan Yassin and treasurer Roland Chia, the latter two appointed by Azmin. Mursalim was appointed by Thamrin to replace him when he moved up.

It is not known why they were not removed, as demanded by national vice-president Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan. They are aligned with the Thamrin faction as the Kudat, Ranau and Penampang (disputed) division chiefs respectively.

They were to have been replaced by Moses Iking, Saidil Simoi and either Dr Chong Eng Leong or Bernard Solibun, as per the agreement between Jeffrey and Anwar and as confirmed by the former.

The agreement was Anwar's peace offer in return for Jeffrey's acceptance of Thamrin as the state chief.

Jeffrey has been given overall responsibility for Sabah and Sarawak.

Round two with no winners

Liew, a Jeffrey loyalist, is widely seen as a compromise choice after the Thamrin faction had reportedly lobbied against a member of the powerful 78-strong KadazanDusunMurut Task Force being selected as state deputy chief. Jeffrey heads the task force.

Last Sunday was round one when Anwar announced in Kota Kinabalu that Thamrin would remain the state chief until March when the post would be elected for the first time.

Jeffrey had previously disputed "the undemocratic nature of Thamrin's appointment".

During the state level meeting today, Thamrin is reportedly believed to have said that he "was just a postman forced to announce a list decided by Kuala Lumpur".

Sources told Malaysiakini that Thamrin was rebuked over this remark and was reminded that he was also selected by Kuala Lumpur and not elected.