Zahrain quits PKR

Datuk Seri Zahrain quits PKR and turns independent. - Picture by Choo Choy May

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, Feb 12 — Outspoken PKR MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim today announced that he is quitting the party, making him the first federal lawmaker from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to turn independent.

He told reporters he is beginning to have doubts in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, citing the actions of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng whom he described as a “chauvinist, dictator and communist-minded”. His resignation comes amid rumours that several other PKR MPs would quit before the Chinese Lunar New Year which is on Sunday.

“When I was invited by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat, I place my confidence and trust to the struggle for reform,” said the former Penang PKR chief.

“However my confidence and trust have begun to erode. And my doubts have overtaken my confidence to the objectives and the struggle of PKR especially, and Pakatan Rakyat,” he added.

“In the name of God, I would like to announce my resignation from PKR,” said Zahrain adding that he will remain as an independent in Parliament.

He also said that he had done his best to voice out his grievances by using PR’s internal channels.

“But all my objections and criticisms were brushed aside,” said Zahrain.

“I do not want history to punish me for not taking action,” he added.

“I will be independent. I have not spoken to anyone from BN or Umno,” he said when asked if he will be BN-friendly in Parliament.

Zahrain also slammed DAP’s Middle Malaysia calling it a narrow racial agenda.

“The Malay Muslim community continues to be marginalised,” he said.

Since Election 2008, five PKR state assemblymen have left the party to become Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters.

With Zahrain’s defection, PR’s share of seats in the 222-member Parliament is now reduced to 81.

BN currently controls 137 seats, with Sabah-based SAPP having two seats, and there are another two independents.

Zahrain had been referred to the PKR disciplinary committee after he called Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “a dictator, chauvinist and Communist-minded.”

DAP leaders have responded to Zahrain claims saying that the former Umno man is unhappy, as a company linked to him had failed to secure a government contract.

Zahrain is also said to be a leading a group of PR MPs who intend to help BN regain its two-third majority. He denied the allegation.

Besides Zahrain, another Penang PKR leader, Tan Tee Beng, had also lashed out at Lim by stating that he is “a leader without class who practised vengeful politics”.

Like Zahrain, Tan has also been referred to the PKR’s disciplinary committee.