Port Klang assemblyman Badrul quits PKR
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah has quit PKR, citing a loss of faith in the party leadership, in a move that could spark a crisis in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government.
He did not say if he would be joining Umno or any other political party, but he asserted that he would not relinquish his state seat.
His announcement comes just hours after Selangor Mentri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had said he wanted the lawmaker to resign as assemblyman for non-performance.
Badrul Hisham won the Port Klang state seat in Election 2008 with 12,397 votes against Barisan Nasional’s Roselinda Abdul Jamil who got 7,990 votes and independent Nazir Mansor with 580.
Early this month, Khalid had said he would decide on Badrul Hisham’s status by the end of October.
Speculation had been rife for months now that Badrul Hisham planned to defect to Umno and controversy has plagued the first-term lawmaker since the general election last year due to complaints by voters in his constituency that he was never around and could not be contacted.
source : malaysianinsider
Khalid says Umno can have Badrul, Khir Toyo says will accept
By Neville SpykermanSHAH ALAM, Oct 29 — Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today said Umno was welcome to have Badrul Hisham Abdullah if it really wanted a state lawmaker who could not serve his constituents.
The Selangor mentri besar also indicated that he did not care if the Port Klang assemblyman became an independent lawmaker or joined Umno or even MCA.
However, he pointed out that Badrul had made a commitment to serve the public when he was elected and, if he was really responsible, should resign to give others the opportunity to do the job.
He said measures would be taken if Badrul refuses to resign but declined to elaborate.
Khalid was speaking to reporters today in response to an earlier statement by his political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who said Badrul should quit his seat for non-performance and the recommendation would be made to the PKR supreme council.
He added the state government could not tolerate incompetent and irresponsible leaders.
In an immediate reaction, opposition leader Datuk Seri Khir Toyo said Umno would welcome Badrul into the party.
The former Selangor mentri besar said Umno was open to Malays and Bumiputeras.
Khir added that Khalid should have given Badrul more time to improve.
“If he comes to Barisan Nasional (BN) we will give him the opportunity to serve,” said Khir.
He pointed out that if Badrul was really not good, "why did PKR let him stand for elections in the first place?"
Meanwhile, Badrul remained incommunicado today and reporters who went to his home in Kampung Raja Uda, Port Klang saw his car in his porch but no one was in.
The call for the embattled politician to resign raises prospects of a by-election in Selangor.
Controversy has plagued the lawmaker due to complaints by his constituents that he was frequently absent and could not be contacted.
source : malaysianinsiderAzizah admits setback in the party
By Adib ZalkapliKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today acknowledged that the party was facing difficulties but promised to continue with its struggle.
The admission was made in response to the protest over the appointment of the new Sabah PKR chief, Ahmad Thamrin Jai.
The protest has resulted in the resignation of two Sabahan leaders, vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and supreme council member Christina Liew.
“I recognise that not everyone will be pleased with decisions made by the party’s leadership and not everyone will appreciate the difficulty we face in seeking to accommodate all views, including those of the divisions and branches which make up the backbone of the party, while striving to guide our party towards achieving its goals,” said Azizah in a statement.
“Our task remains a work in progress and the announcements made this week are based on consensus and consultation within the party to work towards a better future,” she added.
“I acknowledge the setbacks that we have faced since the March elections. Political parties are complex organisms and political coalitions are neither crystallised overnight nor even in a fortnight,” said Azizah.
The former opposition leader also said that some of the concerns raised by the party members and supporters are valid and added that PKR will address them.
“The frustrations which have been expressed by some colleagues within the party and by some supporters are valid and I remain open to engaging all parties on the principle of mutual respect, understanding and an unrelenting commitment to the principles of justice and fairness,” she said.
Yesterday, a PKR political bureau member Tian Chua blamed the media for confusing reports on party affairs.
Previously PKR was also rocked by the decision of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to take leave from the political bureau for six months, due to disagreement with the party leadership.
source : malaysianinsiderAs Pakatan wobbles, some start questioning Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — October is shaping up to be make or break month for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.
PKR is fraying at the seams with Jeffrey Kitingan and his allies in Sabah parting ways with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s party.
The constant speculation over the future of PKR secretary-general Datuk Sallehuddin Hashim also adds to the impression that the party is not on a firm footing.
And the troubles surrounding PAS were the last thing the coalition needed.
Last night, PAS leaders averted the possibility of a potentially damaging EGM called by its spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to remove what he described as “problematic leaders” who were not entirely committed to PR.
The party’s central committee promised to set up a disciplinary investigation into the problems the party is facing in Selangor.
And party leaders declared, yet again, that PAS was committed to the PR coalition.
But the public will still need some convincing on PAS’s direction.
There appears to be less fear and respect now for Anwar. — File pic
This is because without the structure and support base of PAS it will be hard for the coalition to move ahead with its ambitions of snaring Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN).
While DAP remains relatively stable, PKR remains the weak link in the PR coalition despite the fact that it has the most elected representatives of the three partners.
Instead of addressing its problems PKR leaders appear to be still in denial mode and this was epitomised by remarks made yesterday by its political bureau member Tian Chua.
Chua blamed the media for various “confusing reports” over speculation about Sallehuddin’s apparent resignation.
But it has already become an open secret that Sallehuddin is unhappy with the party. And his resignation could well be a matter of when and not if.
In PKR there appears to be less fear and respect now for Anwar.
That is why Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and others are willing to go their own way and are questioning some of Anwar’s positions, strategies and appointments.
Zaid, who was sacked from Umno and joined PKR amid some fanfare, had been given the job of formulating a common platform for the three-party coalition.
But the recent flap over his wish to visit Sabah and Sarawak amid an open revolt in the two states caused him to announce his six-month leave from party political work.
What is happening in PKR appears to be a result of its own unwillingness to confront problems early on and effectively.
Even some of Anwar’s and PR’s biggest supporters among the network of Internet bloggers who helped galvanise support for the opposition during Election 2008 appear to be growing disillusioned.
While many of these pro-PR bloggers still express commitment to the opposition coalition, some of them are questioning Anwar’s leadership.
Prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin wrote yesterday of Anwar going into “self-destruct mode.”
“Anwar Ibrahim and many of the opposition leaders have this false feeling of grandeur… but are not grand and certainly far from great.
“They did not make March 2008 happen. The people made it happen. And what the people make the people can break. And the people are of the opinion that the opposition leaders, Anwar included, have lost their direction.”
source : malaysianinsider
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