PETALING JAYA, April 21 – The DAP has ruled out Penang PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim as a likely candidate for Penanti, saying he was “behaving like a little Umno leader” in criticising Lim Guan Eng.
The war of words between both Pakatan Rakyat allies is escalating despite discussions yesterday between the Penang chief minister and PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Such irresponsible comments by him would rule him out as the possible PKR and Pakatan Rakyat candidate for the Penanti by-election,” DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said in a media statement today.
PKR has said it will choose the Penanti candidate who if wins, will also be named as Penang deputy chief minister I.
Zahrain yesterday slammed the DAP secretary-general for being piqued over not being told of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin’s resignation from the Penanti seat on April 16 although the letter was dated March 19.
“Datuk Zahrain’s baseless attacks against Lim are ill advised, irresponsible and politically motivated to help hide weaknesses in his leadership that caused so many problems in Penang PKR,” Pua added.
“It must also be emphasised that Guan Eng and the DAP has shown a genuine spirit of camaraderie and co-operation in the entire episode since Mohammad Fairus first resigned as the Deputy Chief Minister 1, despite having to withstand strong criticisms for the several postponements by Datuk Seri Anwar with regards to the naming of a replacement Deputy Chief Minister.”
Pua also disclosed that Anwar had not asked Lim to keep mum over the issue as advised by PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali yesterday.
“At no time did Datuk Seri Anwar say that Lim had no right to express his concerns when asked by the press. It would have been wiser and more rational for Dr Syed and Datuk Zahrain to check with Datuk Seri Anwar to understand what else more Datuk Seri Anwar had expressed to Lim,” he said.
Pua said Lim will not pursue the issue through the media but has the right to express disagreement with the national PKR leadership’s failure to inform Fairus’s resignation.
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