Anwar’s family ties in PKR reason for defections, says Rais

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today cited what he described as the monopoly of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s family in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as one reason for the recent resignation of several members from the party.

One more reason could be the dissatisfaction of these members over the failure of the PKR leadership to formulate and clearly explain the party’s policies to the people, he said.

“PKR is seen as being monopolised by one family, that of Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament (Anwar, the advisor), his wife (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) as the president and their daughter (Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah) who also plays an important role.

“It (the party) is seen as a family enterprise. The people are not convinced by this (state of affairs),” he told reporters after opening the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies (Apricot) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here.

Dr Rais, who is Information Communication and Culture Minister, was asked to comment on the recent resignations of several members from the PKR.

Nibong Tebal Member of Parliament Tan Tee Beng today announced his resignation from the PKR, one day after the announced departure from the party of former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, with both citing disappointment with the party leadership for failing to champion the people’s cause.

Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim had announced on Feb 12 his resignation from PKR, citing disappointment with the leadership of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of the DAP, one of the parties in the PKR-DAP-PAS opposition pact.

Dr Rais said Mohammad Fairus had conveyed to him his disappointment with the monopoly in the PKR when they met about a month ago, adding that such sentiment expressed by a one-time deputy chief minister must have basis to reflect something was not right in the party and that such a trend would continue.

He said the developments in PKR had been expected because the basis of its struggle was not coated with service and struggle clearly defined for the people to understand. — Bernama