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Sunday 14 March 2010

Khalid unfazed as disgruntled PKR members walk out

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

JERAM, March 14 — Disgruntled PKR members today staged a walkout at the party’s Kuala Selangor division Annual General Meeting here, after calling the meeting unconstitutional, but failed to disrupt the meeting attended by Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who heads the division.

On Friday, division deputy chief Arshad Abu Bakar told The Malaysian Insider that some members may try and disrupt the AGM while a motion of no-confidence may be tabled against Khalid.

He had said the grassroots were unhappy with Khalid’s performance as division chief while voters are unhappy with him as the Ijok state lawmaker.

While there was no no-confidence motion, some 20 members walked out after PKR member Mazli Saring failed to halt the meeting on the grounds that proper notice had not been given to members.

“According to the constitution, letters must be sent to members 14 days before the AGM but many did not get the letters.” he said, adding that the AGM should be postponed.

Mazli said many had learnt about the AGM after reading an announcement in Sinar Harian.

The AGM however was allowed to continue after the matter was put to a vote.

Yesterday it was reported that disgruntled members were scheming to embarrass Khalid Ibrahim at the AGM to vent their frustrations for not getting top jobs or contracts in what seems to be a growing grouse in PKR.

Eleven division committee members, including the Youth and Wanita chiefs, resigned last January claiming they have lost confidence in Khalid’s leadership.

However Khalid today seemed to have the support of majority of the over 300 PKR members who attended the AGM.

“I am satisfied with the support and the maturity of the members here,” he said.

But speaking to the press later, Mazli with about a dozen other PKR members including Arshad, slammed Khalid’s leadership.

They denied that they were disgruntled because of the lack of largesse from Khalid but because of his leadership.

“It’s not true,” they exclaimed, when asked if the lack of benefits were their motives in speaking out against Khalid.

Ibrahim Mahidin, who was formerly Kuala Selangor PKR information chief before he was dismissed by Khalid last year, said they were speaking out because of their love for the party.

The group also griped about the manner in which the AGM was carried out, which gave them no opportunity to speak and also claimed that an office bearer of the division was actually a bankrupt, contrary to the constitution.

“This division should be an example to others because he is mentri besar and the constitution should be followed.” said Ibrahim.

He also claimed the reason for their dissatisfaction was Khalid’s arrogance towards them.

“He never meets us.”

The allegations by the group however were dismissed by Khalid’s political Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who told The Malaysian Insider that notices were in fact sent to all PKR members via post.

However he acknowledged that there could be some among the over 4,000 PKR members in Kuala Selangor who did not received it.

“This is not unusual because addresses in our database sometimes are not updated.”

He also said they were aware about stories that an office bearer was bankrupt.

“But we had asked him and were told he has discharged his bankruptcy.” he concluded.

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