ANWAR Ibrahim today hinted at a possible change in the Sabah PKR leadership, saying he will make a decision on Tuesday.

The party president responded in jest twice when pressed by reporters on the matter, remaining mum on whether he will retain state PKR chief Christina Liew or have her replaced.

Liew is on shaky ground, with deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s camp wanting her replaced by Tawau division chief Kong Hon Ming.

The group, led by supreme council member Rahimah Majid, who is also Kudat chief, said 15 division chiefs are backing Kong, and the number is enough to topple Liew.

Sabah PKR has 25 divisions, plus Labuan.

“There is a possibility of (a leadership) change, but I can’t say it now,” said Anwar in Kota Kinabalu.

“First, I have to study the views of all 25 division chiefs. Of course, I will discuss further with other party leaders.

“I will come to a decision only when the political bureau sits for a meeting on Tuesday.”

Anwar is in Sabah to get division chiefs’ views and votes on the state PKR leadership.

He is visiting all states to resolve party leadership issues, and Sabah is his ninth stop. Yesterday, he was in Selangor.

He has yet to make any decisions on state chiefs, following the conclusion of PKR polls last month.

Under the party constitution, the president must take into account the views of all division chiefs before arriving at a decision.

Asked whether there are other names floated for the post of Sabah PKR chief, Anwar said: “I would usually concede to the voice of the majority, but maybe not for Sabah.”

The response drew laughter from the state PKR division chiefs present, and he quickly followed up with: “No. I’m only joking.”

He said he does not want to rush to a decision, and that there are processes that must be respected.

If there is a need, he said, he will seek the help of division chiefs once more.

Meanwhile, Sabah PKR sources told The Malaysian Insight that the party will introduce the posts of vice-presidents for the state and Sarawak, so as to “balance the powers”.

On the tussle for the Sabah PKR chief’s post, a source said besides Liew and Kong, Putatan division chief Awang Hussaini Sahari may be pushed as a candidate. – December 9, 2018.