PKR MPs say they feel cheated by Tee Beng

Some of Tan Tee Beng’s closest colleagues have expressed disappointment over his decision to quit the party and say they feel cheated by him.

The Nibong Tebal MP who had apologised to party leaders last week, after he was hauled up before the disciplinary board for criticizing Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, and who had left his fate in their hands, announced yesterday that he was quitting.

Loh Gwo Burne, who described Tan as his ‘brother-in-arms’ in PKR, said he was disappointed with him.

“When we started as MPs two years ago, we wanted to fight for change and reform, I am disappointed he is leaving now.” said the Kelana Jaya MP, who had been working, even at the eleventh hour to help Tan resolve his problem with Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

S.Manikavasagam, however, did not mince his words when he said Tan had “cheated” all of them.

“He had called us and asked for our support and we stood by him. So he cheated us,” said the Kapar MP, who also lamented that Tan was “brainwashed” into leaving.

He added that Tan’s problems were minor and should have been resolved by the party from the start instead of being allowed to fester.

However PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said she’s hopeful Tan, who was leaving the country for two weeks, would reconsider his decision.

“Of course I am disappointed, but he is a young man with potential and all is not lost,” said Ampang MP.

Besides Tan, former deputy Penang Chief Minister Mohd Fairus Khairuddin also announced he was quitting the party to join Umno yesterday while former PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin had also resigned.

Another PKR lawmaker Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Hashim resigned three weeks ago.

DAP’s Tony Pua said PR has been expecting the defections for sometime despite initial denials by those leaving and had been bracing for it.

“We expect there may be a few others who angry over not receiving preferential treatment from the various PR state government’s to exit.”

He said PR was more concerned with what he described as the ‘perceived manufactured instability” in the coalition than with the individuals who were leaving.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said while the defections may damage the coalition, Barisan National (BN) will also be tainted by association with the disgruntled PKR members.

news courtesy of Malaysian Insider