Unknown Pajudin is Sabah PKR chief

KOTA KINABALU: Little-known Pajudin Nordin, 42, of Tuaran, is Sabah PKR’s new chief, replacing the heavily-criticised Ahmad Thamrin Jaini.
PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced the Arab-speaking Pajudin’s appointment yesterday.
Pajudin, who is fondly addressed as “ustaz” among his friends here, was no where on the list of battling candidates touted by the media during the run-up to the selection.
Pajudin, who was chosen over bigger names in the state, will lead the party’s assault in the 13th general election.
The decision came as a surprise to various feuding camps.
Thamrin, however, said that he had no problems with the new leader though he did not attend Pajudin’s press conference here today.
“It is the prerogative of the president. I have no problems,” he told reporters.
Other senior party leaders were caught by surprise over Pajudin’s appointment.
Pajudin was a state deputy youth chief and was also in the national youth exco team.
“Honestly, we do not know what is the rationale… I don’t think our problems will be solved. Maybe it’s KL’s idea of a solution,” said an insider who declined to be named.
Surprise appointment

Pajudin’s press conference has also caught some leaders off guard.
A shocked Tawau PKR division chief Kong Hong Ming said: “Several division heads and I were unaware of the press conference… there should have been a state announcement by the party president first.”
Sabah PKR has been hit by a spate of resignations including that of its former vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan.
The party’s various factions including Thamrin and Ansari have been at odds in public.
“I hope that everyone will close ranks and put their differences aside. We have to work to strengthen the party and gear up for the coming election,” Pajudin said.
He added that many division heads had congratulated him over the appointment. Thamrin, however, was not among them.
Pajudin was a deputy state Youth head as well as national Youth exco member before this.
A trained teacher, he graduated in “tahfiz wal qiraat” from Saudi Arabia’s Maahad Syubro.
He was formerly the deputy principal imam of the state mosque in Kota Kinabalu as well as a deputy registrar at the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Deparment.
The press conference today was attended  by only three divisional heads – Ansari and his strong allies Hassnar Ebrahim of Batu Sapi, and Anthony Mandiau of Kota Marudu.
The others in attendance were mostly from the Tuaran division.
Thanking PKR leadership for having confidence in him, Pajudin said his appointment was part of PKR’s bigger plan to put young, capable leadership to helm the party’s state liaison team.
“I appeal to all divisional heads to leave behind their differences. I pledge to work with all divisional heads. We uphold the constitution and we shall respect the decision of the president,” he said, adding that everyone in PKR should work to topple the Barisan Nasional.
Pajudin is the first in Sabah to be appointed PKR state chief, who is not from among the 25 divisional heads themselves as has been the norm.
The move is seen as a precedent in the reform-seeking party. Pajudin is expected to announce his full line-up including his secretary, treasurer and information chief in the coming days.
Also expected to be named soon is the state Youth chief.
Meanwhile, Lukia told FMT that she would work out programmes for the wing as soon as she had formed her committee.