More embarrassment as PKR division chief quits

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: A group of Bayan Baru division members, including its permanent chairman and a committee member, have quit PKR.
They are following the footsteps of their political master Bayan Baru parliamentarian Zahrain Mohd Hashim, who quit the party in February to become an independent MP.
The outgoing division permanent chairperson Ismail Mohd Ali announced this during a brief press conference in Bayan Baru MP Zahrain service centre in Penang yesterday.
Ismail was accompanied by a handful of out-going PKR members from Bayan Baru, including division committee member S Dhinabalan.
Ismail claimed that some 200 Bayan Baru members were following him out of the party, including the 100 yesterday.
“Effective today I am resigning as Bayan Baru division permanent chairman and PKR member,” he said, before cutting his PKR membership with a pair of scissors to effect his quit notice.
The defection has dealt another blow to the crisis-plagued party, which faces a crucial by-election in Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat on April 25.
Inevitably Ismail cited lack of confidence on PKR leadership as the main reason for his departure.
“The leaders have moved away from their original goals, principles and struggles,” he said.
Ismail ironically is the special officer to Zahrain while Dhinabalan is the MP’s special assistant.
Ismail said he was particularly disappointed with ‘lack of reaction’ from PKR top leadership against a Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarian for recently calling for an end to Bumiputeras special privileges by repealing Article 153 of Federal Constitution.
Although he did not name the MP, it was apparent that Ismail was referring to Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP national chairman Karpal Singh.
He called on Hulu Selangor voters to reject PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim and choose any of the three other candidates in the parliamentary by-election.
'Frustrated politician'
He also conveyed a statement from Zahrain, who called on PKR state leaders and youth movement to abort their campaign to force him to step down as Bayan Baru MP.
“I would like to advice them not to waste their time, energy and money to ask me to resign.
“I am not going to quit as a MP.
“I am going to work and help my constituents,” Ismail quoted Zahrain.
Meanwhile, when contacted, PKR’s Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin dismissed Ismail as a merely another frustrated PKR politician who was expected to defect for a long time.
He said the state disciplinary committee was already initiating disciplinary action on Ismail for conducting himself in a manner detrimental to the party interests.
“Firstly, he became Zahrain’s special officer after the MP had quit party.
“Secondly, he was seen rubbing shoulders with local Umno leaders in many functions.
“His behaviour and actions were unbecoming of a PKR division permanent chairman,” Sim told FMT.
Sim, who is a Bayan Baru division committee member, described Ismail as a person “who can’t work or deliver” for the people.