‘Air grouses, including sackings, at congress’

KUALA LUMPUR: Any dispute, including the sacking of PKR members Zakaria Abdul Hamid and Ismail Dulhadi, can be raised at the party’s national congress.

Its communications director, Fahmi Fadzil, said grouses should be aired through the proper channel.

“Sending a memorandum to the (party’s) disciplinary board is not the way to do it.

“Their appeal should be raised at the central leadership council’s meeting.

“It is clear that there was an element of corruption, which led to the sacking of the two members,” he said after attending a back-to-school programme in Taman Bukit Angkasa here yesterday.

Fahmi was commenting on a memorandum by party deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali sent to the party’s disciplinary board on Saturday, which was also signed by 19 other central committee members, rejecting the decision.

They had urged party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to issue an apology on the matter.

Fahmi said while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had admitted that it had erred in conveying the matter, the findings from its investigation showed that there was an element of corruption.

“We will not compromise on any form of corruption by our members,” said the Lembah Pantai member of parliament.

On the deepening rift between its members, Fahmi said the party embraced their different views and was not one to “sweep matters under the carpet”.

“Being ‘born’ in the streets (from the Reformasi movement), the party is no stranger to conflicts and has undergone turmoil, including the dismissal of the then Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (in 2014), but it came out stronger than ever.

“So we hope the PKR National Congress, which marks the 20th anniversary of the party’s formation, will be the platform for members and leaders to discuss and resolve disputes.”

He dismissed the suggestion of a pre-meditated “witch hunt” on the duo as Zakaria was said to be linked to Azmin’s camp.

Fahmi reminded PKR members to stay true to its struggle and work towards the betterment of the party.

On Nov 24, PKR fired Zakaria, who is Bera division chairman, and Ismail on grounds of corruption.

The incident was reported to have occurred during last year’s party election, where the duo had allegedly promised to give contracts and allocations of RM300,000 during a meeting with grassroots leaders in Pahang.

PKR had sacked the duo with immediate effect after its disciplinary board received a letter from MACC dated Oct 23 on their alleged misconduct.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said he and the party president had no authority to reverse decisions made by its leadership council relating to the sacking of members.