‘THEY LEFT PKR BECAUSE OF ANWAR’
Former PKR MPs blame party president for recent spate of defections
AGROUP of former PKR members of parliament hit out at the party for demonising Perikatan Nasional (PN) over the spate of crossovers into the ruling coalition.
In a joint statement yesterday, they denied the alleged power abuse by PN to coerce the shift of allegiance through the use of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.
Recently, three PKR MPs — Larry Sng Wei Shien (Julau), Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (Tebrau) and Datuk Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat) — left the party and announced their support for the PN government and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The allegation that PN is using enticement and intimidation to garner the support of MPs from Pakatan Harapan is baseless.
“These MPs have made their objective assessment and realised that the PN government has taken responsible measures in dealing with the pandemic by channelling a total of RM320 billion for the benefit of the people and to revitalise the economy.
“More seriously, the allegation represents an unwarranted and scurrilous attack on the MACC and the police, our integrity and law enforcement institutions which all law-abiding citizens hold to the highest regard.
“We do not take lightly these blatantly seditious accusations that could undermine the credibility of our national institutions and call for swift action against the perpetrators.”
The joint statement was signed by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Datuk Zuraida Kama rudd i n, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Datuk Kamarudin
Jaffar, Datuk Dr Mansor Othman, Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar, Datuk Ali Biju, Datuk Willie Mongin and Jonathan Yasin.
In the same statement, they also said it was time for current PKR leaders and members to look into the factors that had led many long-serving members to resign from the party.
Pinning the blame on PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, they said the Port Dickson MP’s longing for power, among others, was damaging to the party.
The statement said the MPs’ decision to leave PKR was driven by a deep sense of frustration with Anwar’s leadership.
It added that the party, under the current formulation, could no longer claim to be championing the principles of justice and welfare for the people.
“Now is the time for decisive action.
“Let us forge ahead with PN under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and move forward in strength, unity and conviction for the wellbeing and success of the people and the nation.”
PKR was furious with the latest political move, with its secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claiming that Dr
Jayakumar was pressured to defect and support PN.
In the joint statement, the 10 MPs also trained their guns on Saifuddin, claiming the KulimBandar Baru MP had no moral standing to speak on partyhopping given that he had jumped over to other parties previously.
They said unlike Dr Jayakumar who was an elected PKR vice-president, Saifuddin’s position as secretarygeneral was by app ointment, and thus held no “democratic legitimacy”.
“Furthermore, it may be an inconvenient truth, but Anwar must accept the bitter fact that his leadership is rejected by a large cross-section of his party members because a party that has lost its bearings can no longer claim the moral high ground to lead.”