By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian InsiderSHAH ALAM, March 2 — Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (picture) has labelled former PKR lawmakers as “temporary” independents before becoming Barisan Nasional (BN) friendly.
The Selangor PKR liaison committee chief reiterated his belief that the party should take this opportunity to “consolidate” itself.
“I think that they are as much independent as temporary but the issue is we regard it as part of a process of consolidation. I think Pakatan Rakyat is facing a situation where it has to find a level of consolidation. Being independent or otherwise is a personal matter for the so-called parliamentarians.
“As I see it, I think there is the risk if they want to continue as parliamentarians. To become a parliamentarian, they have to decide whether they have to be on their own or affiliated with parties that represent the majority of the rakyat. So I think that is how I see it,” he told reporters.
Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng quit the party yesterday, nearly two weeks after Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim resigned to protest against the party leadership. Ex-Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Fairus Khairuddin left the party on Sunday to join Umno.
PKR now has 29 MPs in Parliament while its Pakatan Rakyat allies DAP has 28 and PAS 23. The two resignations have now reduced Pakatan’s bench to 80 while Barisan Nasional has 137 in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.
There are now two SAPP members and three independents in Parliament.
Former PKR secretary-general Datuk Sallehudin Hashim, who quit the party two weeks ago, had forewarned that 10 other lawmakers would be following the trail of becoming independents in Parliament.
Khalid dismissed the possibility of an independent bloc in Parliament.
“I do not think so because there are a few factions that call themselves independents. I doubt if Ibrahim Ali can sit down together with Tan Tee Beng. So that is an example,” he added.
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