By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal and Clara Chooi - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Pandemonium broke out in the House today when Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim (picture) spoke out against his former party, venting out frustrations on how the PKR had strayed from the path of righteousness to become “subservient” to the DAP.
The Bayan Baru MP, in his inaugural speech as an Independent, took the opportunity to slam his former party comrades, pointing out that he had been cheated into believing that the Sept 16 supposed government takeover would actually happen.
Zahrain also claimed that during the time of the supposed takeover, he was led to believe that de facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had even obtained consent from the King.
“We were cheated with the story that supposedly, the Agong was already waiting in the palace... waiting to get confirmation that enough Barisan Nasional MPs had crossed over to the Opposition and that we had the numbers to take over the Federal Government. The Agong had also supposedly agreed to grant the post of Prime Minister to Anwar,” he said, to escalating shouts of “ooh” from the floor.
As Zahrain went further into his speech, loud shouts and profanities were heard from MPs from both sides of the House.
Opposition backbenchers took the opportunity to accuse Zahrain of having been bought over by the Barisan and Anwar himself told the House that his former Penang PKR chief had only been interested in power and positions.
As the sitting erupted into further chaos and Zahrain yelled at Anwar, “You don’t lie!” the parliamentary Opposition Leader walked out of the House.
At that juncture, BN MPs taunted at Anwar’s departure, claiming that the usually fiery leader was unable to take the heat.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz then switched on his microphone and said repeatedly, “Takut, takut, takut, takut, takut.”
Speaking to reporter in the Parliament lobby shortly after the House was adjourned for the day, Zahrain defended his earlier outbursts, maintaining that he had every right to do so.
“I’m just telling the reasons why I left the party, on my frustrations with Keadilan and the promises made by the ketua umum which are all lies,” he said.
When asked about the number of MPs Anwar claimed PR had won over in Sept 16 2008, the Bayan Baru MP declined to provide an answer.
“I’m not bothered about numbers, I’m just telling my story, the truth, what I went through. To me it’s irrelevant.”
He took to great lengths to defend his positions and reaffirmed that his departure from PKR was expedited by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s running of the State.
“Sept 16 happened but when the issue of dictator, chauvinist came out and I was not defended, that was the last straw,” said Zahrain, who has been extremely vocal in voicing out his discontent towards the Penang Chief Minister.
Earlier on Anwar who had abruptly left the Parliament session soon after Zahrain’s speech, slammed the former PKR man for lying about what had supposedly happened on Sept 16.
“Which MPs came during the takeover of power? No one came. But he is telling a tall tale. He claimed that when the takeover was going to happen everyone would convene in Parliament.”
“Nobody was here. It’s not true at all...he is being used by Umno at a cheap price for what? He’s angry because people are accusing him for the two dollar company. That’s the real issue,” said Anwar.
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