Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) in London which started on July 4 said it did not revolve around a single personality.
Thus far, no one else has followed Zaid’s footsteps out of the party.
“It (Zaid’s leaving) doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference,” DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw told The Malaysian Insider today.
“There are others who are in contact with Friends,” he added, naming DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli, and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr Hatta claimed that PR leaders did not play a founding role in the movement but merely officiated its launch.
“We were there as leaders of Pakatan Rakyat to officiate. It’s not a Zaid project, or my project or Nurul Izzah (Anwar)’s project. It’s the supporters of Pakatan,” said Dr Hatta.
“So if anyone of us leaves, too bad. But the thing must go on. It should not be affected by anyone leaving,” added the Kuala Krai MP.
Dr Hatta, Dr Tan, Nurul Izzah and Zaid were present at the FoPR launch in London on July 4 where maverick blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin gave a speech before over 200 people.
Nurul Izzah echoed Dr Hatta’s views and said that the FoPR would continue despite Zaid’s absence.
“Even though we may be devoid of the original leader (Zaid), the Friends of Pakatan Rakyat will still continue,” said the Lembah Pantai MP.
“The Friends of Pakatan Rakyat has been emailing us their updates from time to time,” she added.
Nurul Izzah also noted that a meeting between FoPR and Anwar has been scheduled for January next year.
“I believe that they (FoPR) remain consistent and are quite committed to the cause, but a proper meeting will be held between the representative and the Opposition Leader in January,” said Anwar’s eldest daughter.
In July, then PR secretariat coordinator Zaid said the network was aimed at stirring the Malaysian diasporas to pressure the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for their rights as citizens, including the right to vote.
He had also denied that the PR leadership was funding nor using the FoPR network to compete with partisan groups like the Umno Supporters’ Clubs.
Zaid dropped the quit bombshell earlier this month, blaming the party leadership for condoning electoral fraud and election malpractices.
He also resigned from all party posts, including his positions as PKR Federal Territories chief, PKR Wangsa Maju division chief and PKR political bureau member.
Recently, the former Umno minister confirmed that he would quit PKR this December 16, but would likely form his own party and contest in the coming general election.
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