By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leaders are unfazed by neuro-surgeon Dr Halili Rahmat’s resignation as Hulu Selangor PKR treasurer earlier today, saying it will not affect the party’s campaign in the run-up to the polls on April 25.
Describing Halili as “a smart neuro-surgeon who failed to uphold the party’s principles”, Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said it was “not as big a loss” as perceived by Umno.
“I respect Halili's decision but at the same time I would like to say that as an educated person, he should want to see Malaysia (become) more democratic in nature.
“But his decision does not augment well for democratic practices in the country. It validates those who obviously do not appreciate the democratic ambitions of the Malaysian people,” he said.
Many view the timing of Halili’s move to quit PKR as an Umno-style strategy to undermine public perception of PKR.
Mainstream media and pro-Umno BN blogs are running riot with stories of unhappy PKR members and “mass” defections of members to Umno in the run-up to the Hulu Selangor by-election, which has been described as a “must win” for BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Halili, who is an Ulu Yam local, has twice contested in the general elections in 1999 (Hulu Selangor) and 2004 (Batang Kali state seat), but lost on both occasions.
He was on the list of PKR’s potential candidates for the Hulu Selangor seat which fell vacant following the death of incumbent Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25.
Zainal had wrested the seat from four-term BN MP G Palanivel, who is also MIC deputy president, in the March 2008 general election.
PKR, however, opted to field former law minister Zaid Ibrahim for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
No hiccups to campaign
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in echoing Yusmadi’s views, said:
“Halili’s resignation won’t weaken us. I also disagree with his allegations.
“I do not see any weaknesses in our machinery or hiccups in our campaign process for this election as a result of his announcement today. It definitely won’t affect our candidate,” he said.
Batu MP Tian Chua, who is also PKR director of strategy, said Halili's resignation was a “non-issue” but more importantly, is the fact that BN had until now not announced what changes he will bring to the people of Hulu Selangor.
“A by-election is a battle of policies and personalities as well as the representative's agenda for serving the people.
“It is disappointing that until now the BN candidate has not told Hulu Selangor voters what he will do,” said Tian Chua.
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leaders are unfazed by neuro-surgeon Dr Halili Rahmat’s resignation as Hulu Selangor PKR treasurer earlier today, saying it will not affect the party’s campaign in the run-up to the polls on April 25.
Describing Halili as “a smart neuro-surgeon who failed to uphold the party’s principles”, Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said it was “not as big a loss” as perceived by Umno.
“I respect Halili's decision but at the same time I would like to say that as an educated person, he should want to see Malaysia (become) more democratic in nature.
“But his decision does not augment well for democratic practices in the country. It validates those who obviously do not appreciate the democratic ambitions of the Malaysian people,” he said.
Many view the timing of Halili’s move to quit PKR as an Umno-style strategy to undermine public perception of PKR.
Mainstream media and pro-Umno BN blogs are running riot with stories of unhappy PKR members and “mass” defections of members to Umno in the run-up to the Hulu Selangor by-election, which has been described as a “must win” for BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Halili, who is an Ulu Yam local, has twice contested in the general elections in 1999 (Hulu Selangor) and 2004 (Batang Kali state seat), but lost on both occasions.
He was on the list of PKR’s potential candidates for the Hulu Selangor seat which fell vacant following the death of incumbent Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25.
Zainal had wrested the seat from four-term BN MP G Palanivel, who is also MIC deputy president, in the March 2008 general election.
PKR, however, opted to field former law minister Zaid Ibrahim for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
No hiccups to campaign
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in echoing Yusmadi’s views, said:
“Halili’s resignation won’t weaken us. I also disagree with his allegations.
“I do not see any weaknesses in our machinery or hiccups in our campaign process for this election as a result of his announcement today. It definitely won’t affect our candidate,” he said.
Batu MP Tian Chua, who is also PKR director of strategy, said Halili's resignation was a “non-issue” but more importantly, is the fact that BN had until now not announced what changes he will bring to the people of Hulu Selangor.
“A by-election is a battle of policies and personalities as well as the representative's agenda for serving the people.
“It is disappointing that until now the BN candidate has not told Hulu Selangor voters what he will do,” said Tian Chua.
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