KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR will need to take a step up if it wants to have autonomy to appoint its own chief.

       Kota Belud PKR division chief and Sepanggar MP Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the matter was raised several times during the party’s meeting, but it was never proposed to the central leadership.

       "This issue has been highlighted during Sabah PKR meetings, but it was never proposed at the national level because it involves the party constitution.

       "The constitution entrusts the party president to make a decision after consulting and getting views from all division heads, and further discussion with the political bureau and central leadership," said Mustapha, who is also Deputy Higher Education Minister.

       Speaking to reporters at the Sabah PKR Hari Raya open house on Sunday (April 21), he also added: "Sabah PKR will have to discuss specifically on the issue (of autonomy right to appoint its own chief) if it wishes to propose it to the central leadership, because it involves amending the current party constitution."

       On another development, Mustapha said Sabah PKR is focussed on its plan to create future party successors that subscribe to the “reformasi” ideology, a brainchild of party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

       "We want to create more 'Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim' in Sabah that understands the issues faced by us, particularly poverty. The state has the highest number of hardcore poor, and we need to nail it down.

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       "We need to eradicate poverty. Full stop.

       "And we also need to address the citizenship issue in Sabah because there are many natives in rural areas in the state who are undocumented. We must get them registered and own identification cards," he said.

       The two issues were brought to Anwar’s attention during a meeting with Sabah PKR leaders in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (April 20).

       Anwar told reporters after the meeting that these issues would be addressed, adding: "Of course (overcoming the citizenship issue) will be according to the conditions determined by our country."