By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — Former PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim warned his former party colleagues not to resort to personal attacks over the defection of its lawmakers.
“They want to strip me, but let us see if it is better to have your underwear on or to be completely naked,” said Salehudin at a press conference to announce Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri’s resignation from PKR today.
Salehudin was commenting on the attempt by PKR deputy president Senator Syed Husin Ali to discredit him after he predicted that ten lawmakers from the party will quit soon.
Yesterday Syed Husin alleged that Salehuddin had been unhappy with the party after his application to become the chief executive officer of the Selangor investment arm, Perangsang Group was rejected.
Syed Husin also claimed that Salehuddin was paid RM9,000 per month when he was serving as PKR secretary-general since March 2008.
In his response, Salehuddin dismissed the allegations adding that he had spent enormous amounts of money while serving in the party.
“There will be allegations, that those who left the party are full imperfections, as if those who remain in the party are perfect specimens of human beings,” said Salehuddin.
He also denied that he was behind the resignation PKR MPs but reiterated his claim that more of the party lawmakers will quit.
“I’m not a Prophet, although some people like to claim to be a Prophet or angel, but I did expect about one-third will leave,” said Salehuddin.
On the move by 12 PKR MPs to declare their loyalty to the party this morning, Salehuddin said it is up to them to make such declarations.
“I did not say everyone will leave, I only said 10, the rest they can make their pledge of loyalty or declaration,” he said.
Salehuddin was present at the press conferences held by Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim and Tan Tee Beng to announce their resignation.
On Mohsin’s resignation, Salehuddin said it shows PKR’s failure to manage the diversity of opinions in the party.
He said that Mohsin’s stand on the “Allah” issue should have been handled better.
The first term MP had said that he was disappointed that the party has backed the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
“For me personally what’s wrong with using the word Allah in Christian books, so in this room there is a difference of opinion,” said Salehuddin adding that the party has failed to convince those who are unsure about the party’s stand.
“One or two persons cannot decide on such a sensitive issue, I am not asking for a referendum, but it should be thoroughly debated at the political bureau, this did not happen and has caused uneasiness among the grassroots,” he added.
“This is not a party for one or two people, not a private limited company or a family party, this is a party for all Malaysian,” said Salehuddin.
On whether the decision by Mohsin to quit PKR is a betrayal to the voters, Salehuddin said he shares the view of his former party that has always endorsed the defection of lawmakers.
“On Sept 16, 2008, they were supposed to get 30 MPs to defect, would that be considered betrayal?” he asked referring to Anwar’s plan to topple Barisan Nasional (BN) government soon after Election 2008.
He added that only DAP chairman Karpal Singh who believes that elected representatives should resign if they choose to join another party.
With Mohsin’s resignation PKR now has 27 MPs, DAP 28, PAS 23, PSM 1 and SAPP 2. There are four independents.
BN controls 137 seats in the 222-member Parliament.
No comments:
Post a Comment