KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Sangkar Rasam has been told to step down as Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman.
The call, which was translated into a statutory declaration, was jointly signed by 15 out of 26 division chiefs in Sabah and Labuan.
Among those who signed were former Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew, who is also Api Api assemblyman, Peto Galim (Inanam assemblyman) and Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (Sepanggar member of parliament).
The group's spokesperson Sazalye Donol said the leaders have also officially stated their position at the State Leadership Council meeting yesterday.
"This action was taken after considering several factors, including the failure of the State Chairman to lead the party in this state.
"Since he was appointed as the State Chairman in 2022, he did not organise any programmes to strengthen the party, including strategy training, leadership training, communication and information training, public speaking training, election training, and various other programmes.
"What he has done is only to organise feasts to welcome leaders from the central level who come to Sabah," said Sazalye, who is also Kota Marudu division chief, at a press conference here.
The group also said that Sangkar, despite being appointed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is not well-known and lacks the trust of the majority of party leaders and grassroots members.
Sazalye said because of Sangkar, the state PKR was viewed poorly not only by coalition partners in the Pakatan Harapan and others in the unity government.
Meanwhile, he added that despite leaders having signed the SDs since June last year, they only submitted the document to Anwar recently.
"We wanted to give chances to Sangkar to resign on his own, but since he has personally refused, we had no choice but to submit the SD to the president and ask for his resignation."
When asked about the possible candidates for the new state PKR chief, Sazalye said candidates should be elected representatives and hold ministerial positions.
Mustapha is the Deputy Higher Education minister, while Liew is Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister and Peto is assistant Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry minister.