Twelve PKR MPs pledged loyalty to their party as a third lawmaker quit to be independent, shrinking the opposition bench to 80 in parliament.
The 12 blamed Umno and Barisan Nasional for attempting to divide the party by spreading rumours that more PKR representatives would be jumping ship.
Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas, who led the press conference at the PKR headquarters here and spoke on behalf of the 12, said that they strongly rejected the allegations that some of them would soon defect.
“The reality here is that Umno and Barisan is feeling threatened by the second wave of support for Pakatan Rakyat’s leadership, especially with PKR de facto leader (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim’s second sodomy trial,” he said.
He added that all the 12 MPs had signed a statement pledging their loyalty to the party, a move that was made voluntarily.
“We would like to stress that our struggle is to defend Pakatan’s principle of justice. We would also like to declare that our support for Anwar as the PKR de facto leader is undivided,” he said.
The 12 comprised PKR backbenchers who do not hold posts in the party’s top leadership.
Among them are Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff, Kelana Jaya MP Gwo-Burne Loh, Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail, Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan and Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam.
Gobalakrishnan and Loh were not present at the press conference due to other commitments.
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