The chart showed former Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) leader Dasim Ricky Jikah as the chairman while Upko member Ceasar Mandela Malakun was named vice-chairman.

Nabawan assemblyman Bobbey Suan, who left Upko in November last year, was named the committee’s secretary.

The organisation chart caused a stir among social media users because former Sabah Umno chief and Sulaman assemblyman Hajiji Noor had been strongly tipped to be the pro tem committee chairman for Sabah PPBM.

However, some suggested the chart may well be real because PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said former Umno members who joined PPBM will not be allowed to take up any positions within the party for two years.

On the other hand, this condition may not apply to Sabah considering PPBM is a new party in the state.

A source close to some of the names on the chart told FMT here today that while it is true Jikah had approached all the individuals named in the chart, not all of them were aware of Jikah’s intention.

It is understood that the formation of the pro tem committee was done under the direction of a top leader within PPBM itself.

Meanwhile, a former senior Sabah Umno leader, who also requested anonymity, dismissed the chart outright, saying it did not make sense for former Sabah Umno MPs or assemblymen to be left out of the list.

The source, who was part of the mass exodus from Sabah Umno  last December, said the now-independent elected representatives should have been appointed to senior positions in PPBM’s Sabah chapter.