KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) today dismissed a news report claiming there were efforts to appoint former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman as the coalition’s leader in the state.

Sabah PH chief Datuk Christina Liew, Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, Sabah PKR chief Sangkar Rasam, Sabah DAP chief Datuk Frankie Poon and Sabah Amanah chief Lahirul Latigu said the matter was never discussed or decided at any of the coalition’s meeting at the state level.

"Sabah PH takes the stand that any important decisions relating to the mandate and confidence of the people should be considered, scrutinised and refined unanimously at the leadership level of Sabah PH.

"We will conduct a meeting in the near future to discuss this matter including the direction of Sabah PH ahead of the upcoming state election,” they said in a joint statement.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is finding a way to put the veteran Umno politician at the helm of the coalition in Sabah.

Citing an unnamed source, it said that Anwar believed Musa’s experience could help strengthen the state coalition for the next state election.

The news portal also said that Anwar’s senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, had met Musa to discuss this matter during his recent visit to the state.