(Harakah) PKR has rubbished claims that it plans to expel outspoken senior leader Zaid Ibrahim and keep Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin and Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim.
“This is utter nonsense. All three including Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng will be facing the disciplinary board,” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Harakahdaily.“It is now up to the board to probe and then its decision endorsed by the supreme council. But I can tell you for sure, there is no such bias against Zaid or any plan to embarrass him. In fact, it is laughable to even think that there is such a move against him when he has contributed so much to PKR and Pakatan in such a short while.
“But having said that, it is also a fact that he did lash out in public against Zulkifli Noordin. Whether we personally agree with him or not – he too has to respect the party’s internal channels or Zul and Zahrain will then say PKR is favouring Zaid! So all four have to go through the process with the disciplinary board and it is for the disciplinary board to recommend.”
Time for PKR to crack the whip
PKR insiders attribute the latest speculation to supporters of the four leaders fishing for information of the central leadership’s intentions.
"This is not the right way and it can lead to even greater punishment if it is blown out of proportion,” Tian cautioned. “We just have to be patient, due process must take place. PKR must be seen to act fairly. As the saying goes, one man cannot a party make. We must accept this and not let personal feelings come first.”
Both PKR and Pakatan Rakyat have warned members that indiscipline will be treated harshly at both party and coalition levels, especially members who go public with statements against their own colleagues and their own parties instead of voicing their frustrations through internal channels.
Zulkifli started a media ruckus last month when he lodged a police report against PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad over the Allah issue. Days later, Zahrain and Tan followed suit by condemning DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, ostensibly over the latter's stewardship of their Penang state.
Zaid was pulled up for publicly scolding his PKR party for not sacking Zulkifli, claiming that such leniency would only open the floodgates to further erosion of public confidence in both PKR and Pakatan.
All four men have been warned to stop their public vendetta and grousing, but so far, only Zaid has complied with the PKR gag order.
The other three have been unrepentant and have given further interviews to the Umno-BN press. Their action will increase the pressure on PKR to deal with the situation swiftly, and insiders believe the disciplinary panel may now have no choice but to announce severe sentences as deterrents.
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