Tuesday, March 16, 2010

PKR reps in Kedah pledge loyalty, but...


PKR's four state assemblymen and four MPs in Kedah have pledged their loyalty to the party despite speculation that they would be jumping ship.

However, the party's former Lunas assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh, who sparked off the speculation last month, is confident that an exodus is inevitable.

Previously, he claimed that more than 10 PKR reps from several states, including Kedah, would be quitting the party due to dissatisfaction with the leadership.

Contacted yesterday, Mohd Radhzi said that one Kedah rep, whom he refused to identify, would make an announcement about his resignation soon and become an independent.

“But I cannot reveal the names as they are the ones who should make the announcement. Most of them have met me to voice their dissatisfaction with PKR,” he added.

According to him, PKR has veered off from its original objectives of fighting for the people, race and country, and is now obsessed with the idea of forming the next federal government.

Recently, PKR lost an MP in Kedah after the party's disciplinary board resolved to sack Kulim Bandar Bahru rep Zulkifli Noordin for not toeing the party line.

'Where's the proof?'

Meanwhile, Bukit Selambau assemblyman and state exco S Manikumar assured that the political situation in Kedah is stable under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

“Besides, I have not heard any news that some of us would defect. This is just a speculation by some irresponsible people who don't have any dignity.

“If I leave the party, I would relinquish all my posts because the people gave the mandate to PKR during the last general election,” he told FMT.

Lashing out at Mohd Radhzi, Manikumar said: “Who is he to talk about all this? He was just claiming that he has the numbers but did not have any proof. Don't try to tarnish our image.”

Sidam assemblyman Tan Show Kang said PKR supporters have nothing to be concerned about simply because “nobody would be leaving the party”.

“This is a show by Mohd Radzhi. He keeps claiming all sorts of things and the people are tired of it. Besides, if there are PKR state reps leaving, it is still not enough to topple the Kedah government,” he added.

Also taking Mohd Radzhi to task, Kulim assemblyman Lim Soo Nee demanded that the former provide proof instead of just making baseless allegations.

Bakar Arang assemblyman Tan Wei Shu also denied that he is resigning from the party despite talk that he would defect following the state government's decision to drop him as an exco during a recent reshuffle.

'We're not for sale'

As for the MPs, Bagan Serai's N Gobalakrishnan also rubbished the speculation.

“There is no truth to it. There would be no exodus. You can take my word for it. Those who left the party (earlier) do no understand PKR's struggle,” he said.

Taking a similar stand, Merbok MP Datuk Rashid Din brushed off the claim as “sheer nonsense” and denied that he is contemplating leaving the party.

Kuala Kedah MP Ahmad Kassim also denied his involvement in the alleged exodus, stressing that he is not for sale.

“This has got nothing to do with me. I can never be bought unlike those who left the party recently,” he said.

Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul also said that his loyalty cannot be purchased.

“Why would I leave PKR? For money? I was from Umno before I joined PKR and the reason I left Umno is because they had corrupt leaders. If I wanted money, I would have just stayed on in Umno,” he said.

Prior to Zulkifli's sacking, three PKR MPs Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Penang-Bayan Baru), Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Perak-Bagan Serai) and Tan Tee Beng (Penang-Nibong Tebal) had quit the party and declared themselves independent.

PKR leaders claim that Barisan Nasional is attempting to lure its reps away with cash rewards, with some placing the figure as high as RM50 million per person.

They claim that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament with the help of defections in order to re-draw election boundaries to favour BN.

BN leaders, however, have denied playing a role in PKR's quagmire.

courtesy of FreeMalaysiaToday

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