Sivarasa suspects ‘cash inducement’ in PKR Lunas walk-out

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

This much money. PKR’s Sivarasa suspects Mohd Radzhi’s resignation may have been due to monetary reasons. — picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — PKR vice-president R Sivarasa today shrugged off claims of a break in party ranks following their Lunas assemblyman turning independent, saying the Kedah executive councillor (exco) might have been “financially induced” to quit to portray internal division.

Mohd Radzhi Salleh today discarded his party membership and declared himself independent, a move which could cost him his state exco position.

His political aide disclosed the dissolution of the party’s Padang Serai division, which Lunas falls under, citing their disappointment with the central leadership as the main reason that prompted the move.

Sivarasa, however, said there is no basis for Radzhi to make such allegations, claiming he has not heard complaints from members against the party’s central leadership.

“There is no basis to what he is claiming. There is no crisis whatsoever. I think it is reasonable to believe that the he might have been offered a substantial amount of money to do so to create the impression that the party is in crisis,” Sivarasa told The Malaysian Insider.

Apart from Radzhi, PKR is represented by two other councillors: Bukit Selambau’s Manikumar Subramaniam and Bakar Arang assemblyman Tan Wei Shu.

Sivarasa, who is Subang member of parliament, said the party would leave the question of Radzhi’s exco position to Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Razak.

“I think it’s just a matter of time before Radzhi would be removed as an exco,” commented Sivarasa.

Prior to Radzhi’s resignation, PKR was in control of five seats in the 36-member Kedah legislative assembly while PAS has 16 and DAP one. Radzhi won the state seat by more than 10,000 votes in the last general election.

His resignation today marks the second time the Kedah Pakatan Rakyat has been hit by internal crisis.

In July, DAP’s sole assemblyman, Lee Guan Aik threatened to withdraw from the state coalition after disagreements with the PAS-led government