Cracks in Penang PKR

GEORGE TOWN: Cracks seem to have appeared in Penang PKR although its leaders have vehemently refuted reports that some members are leaving the party in support of sacked deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The state party vice-chairman, Jason Ong Khan Lee, said most of the elected representatives are still firmly behind the party.

He was responding to a claim by Jelutong division chief Shaharudin Mohd Sharif that up to 2,500 members will be leaving the party en-bloc.

Shaharudin was accompanied by division chairmen Alan Oh of Bagan, Mustaqim Md Daud of Bukit Gelugor and Lim Chee Leong of Batu Kawan as well as Tasek Gelugor Wanita chief Nafizah Ismail and Bayan Baru member M. Navalingam, when he made the announcement.

All of them are known to be allies of Azmin and former Wanita leader Zuraida Kamarudin, after they were identified as the ringleaders behind the defections that led to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government last week.

A new coalition comprising Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and allies Umno and PAS, is to form a new government led by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.

Shaharudin claimed that PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sidelined those who were part of the original struggle of the 1990s, causing a split within the party.

In response, Ong said the claims can be disputed. For instance, he said, only about 100 members attended the Jelutong division annual general meeting. On average, each division has about 500 members.

This, he said, was not reflective of the sentiment of all its members.