Sunday, March 14, 2010

Kedah's ADUN Tan Wei Shu not defecting, says Anwar


PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed rumours that former Kedah executive councillor Tan Wei Shu would quit the party.

Speaking to reporters after a ceramah here last night, he said Tan, the state assemblyman for Bakar Arang, had reiterated his commitment to PKR.

Tan was dropped from the Kedah state executive council in a recent reshuffle and there has been speculation that he would defect.

"He has approached me and denied the rumours," Anwar said.

"We are grateful to him and value his services. I have said that we should all give the Kedah Menteri Besar our support. Dropping Tan from the state executive council does not mean that he is not satisfied with his service. Each individual has a role and responsibility."

Anwar said Tan was aware that a reshuffle was based on need and at the discretion of the Menteri Besar, Azizan Abu Bakar.

Since early February, several MPs and state assemblymen have defected from PKR. However, leaders of the party and those of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition have not seemed perturbed, describing the defections as a "cleansing process".

Tan's absence from the swearing-in ceremony of the new state councillors sparked rumours that he would be next to jump ship, following in the footsteps of the state assemblymen of Changkat Jering, Jelapang, Behrang, Lunas and Port Klang.

The MPs for Bayan Baru, Nibong Tebal, Pasir Mas and Bagan Serai have also quit the party.

Pakatan leaders have accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of poaching the opposition MPs in order to secure a two-third majority in Parliament.

courtesy of FreeMalaysiaToday

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