"PKR has made a serious mistake in coming to Sabah".

That seemed to be the consensus among the 300 odd participants who turned up at the Tambunan Valley Resort Centre yesterday, to debate the fate of PKR in Sabah.

More people milled around outside the normally placid holiday resort, as inside the talks went on from 5pm to 10pm.

NONEThe stand was taken by party divisions in the Interior and the Common Interest Group (CIG), an ad hoc movement, which participated as well.

Meanwhile, news came that PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim was "ready to sue for peace in Sabah".

There was consensus that Sabah's priorities were not those of PKR, or Umno, for that matter.

The most compelling thought raised during the meet was that PKR was in Sabah for the same reason as Umno: "to pick up as many parliamentary seats as possible to help form the federal government".

Several participants recalled that PKR strategists had previously admitted in public that the party's overall game plan was to pick up at least 10 parliamentary seats in Sabah and a similar number in Sarawak to seize the reins of power in Putrajaya. A takeover of the state government as well, it was felt, would cement the party's hold on the parliamentary seats.

Those gathered were also in accord that PKR could not meet the expectations of the people in the state, especially on the burning question of Sabah rights.

It was also unanimously resolved at the Tambunan meet that the PKR divisions in Keningau, Pensiangan and Tenom would be the first to start the ball rolling by dissolving themselves and the members quitting the party en masse. Former PKR vice-president Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan is Keningau division chief.

"By Keningau being the first to disbanding itself, it is expected to send a strong signal throughout Sabah PKR that I am serious about having burnt my bridges with the party," said Jeffrey during the Tambunan meet.

The dissolutions are set to take place sometime today. Jeffrey did hint that they might be put on hold, with news of Anwar offering peace terms through intermediaries.

"I still stick by my statement that I have burnt my bridges," assured Jeffrey. Any delay will only be out of our respect for the party president (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail). Anwar and I are no longer on speaking terms."

Bottled-up tensions released

The political temperature at the gathering notched up several degrees as Jeffrey, during his turn to speak, recounted the recent history of PKR in the state.

It was noted that the party had been in the doldrums until the powerful KadazanDusunMurut Task Force was set up, under his leadership, to inject new vigour into the party. The task force claims to control 18 of the party's 25 divisions in Sabah.

NONEJeffrey (right) then briefed the Tambunan attendees about the circumstances surrounding the Sept 20, 2009 memorandum, signed by 18 division chiefs, and sent to the party president.

The memorandum was basically a litany of complaints about the lack of democracy in decision-making in the party, Jeffrey told the crowd.

However, an unnamed PKR activist offered to read out the entire five-page memorandum. The names of the 18 division chiefs who signed the memorandum were also read out in the order they signed. They include newly appointed state chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, also the Libaran division chief.

"The views of party leaders in the state were not taken into account, much less respected," Jeffrey said as he explained his Oct 28 resignation letter. "So, we see no reason to continue with a party which treats us as subservient to them."

No to racial and religious politics

There were angry outbursts when Jeffrey gave the crowd examples of PKR headquarters trying to play to the gallery by raising issues of race and religion in Sabah.

"They think that by taking this line, they can continue to thrust their proxies, stooges and traitors on us as our leaders," said Jeffrey.

"They ignore the choice of the democratic majority. They bulldoze through candidates who don't have the support in the party by pandering to race and religion a la Peninsular Malaysia."

Jeffrey was nominated for the post of state chief by 16 division chiefs during an Oct 7 meeting. The meeting was held, Jeffrey told the crowd to discuss the lack of feedback from the party president to the memorandum.

However, it apparently turned into an election meet towards the close when those gathered felt that a vote should be taken. This was after a no-confidence motion had been passed against then-state chief Azmin Ali.

The Keningau division chief expressed fears that if PKR continued to stay in Sabah, the party would join Umno in outdoing it in racial polarisation. "We don't want the racial polarisation in Peninsular Malaysia to spread to Sabah and Sarawak," Jeffrey reminded the crowd. "We have a better way here."

The better way, from consensus, appears to be a new multiracial political vehicle that would represent all the people of Sabah. Such a vehicle, Jeffrey agreed with the crowd, could take up local issues and find a common cause with Sarawak and the like-minded in Peninsular Malaysia.

This appears to point the way towards a third political force emerging in Malaysia "one that would steer between the two warring Malay-led political blocks in Peninsular Malaysia".

NONEAn announcement is expected some time today on the dissolution of PKR's Keningau, Pensiangan and Tenom divisions. The Papar division dissolved itself last Sat but has put this on hold after issuing a two-week ultimatum to Anwar to resolve the simmering crisis in Sabah PKR.

Kota Kinabalu division chief Christina Liew (left), contacted last night, confirmed that her division would be dissolved the moment Keningau ceases to exist.

Some 14 to 18 divisions are expected to dissolve themselves within two to three weeks.