Former Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has today reiterated his decision to resign as Penanti assemblyperson.

“I reaffirm my earlier stand to resign as Penanti assemblyperson and pledge full support for the PKR leadership under Anwar Ibrahim,” he said in a statement issued by the party’s information bureau this afternoon.

lim guan eng koh tsu koon penang land scandal issue 220409 fairus khairuddin Fairus’ announcement quashes speculations that he may withdraw his quit notice and remain as Penanti state representative since he had been cleared of all graft allegations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

His decision will pave way for a by-election in Penanti - the sixth in the country since the 12th general election last year.

Fairus nevertheless was in an uncompromising mood when referring to his detractors in his press statement.

Although he said he quit in order to pursue further studies, it is an open secret that Fairus resigned from his elected and appointed political posts, including as Penang deputy chief minister, in the wake of the graft investigations launched by MACC.

Now that he has been cleared, he takes aim at his detractors.

Fairus said he had instructed his lawyers to initiate legal action against “all individuals, politicians and certain segments of the media” for allegedly conspiring to oust him from his posts in the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

“I have instructed my lawyers to file cases against those who have smeared me with all sorts of lies to tarnish me,” said Fairus.

However, he said his ordeal had given him and his family “a new strength”.

EC to announce dates on Monday

Earlier today, Pakatan veteran parliamentarian Karpal Singh said Fairus had the right to withdraw his resignation as Penanti assemblyperson so long as the Election Commission had not accepted his earlier quit notice and announced the by-election date.

In an unusual move, EC has put off making an announcement on its decision regarding the status of the Penanti seat scheduled today to Monday.

penanti state seat penang 200409 “Since the MACC has cleared him of all the graft allegations, I think Fairus has the right to withdraw his resignation letter,” said Karpal.

Meanwhile, Penang speaker Abdul Halim Hussin denied media reports quoting him to have said that Fairus cannot withdraw his resignation.

“I only said that his resignation was done in accordance with the law. As the speaker, I am legally bound to verify the authenticity of the resignation letter, hand it over to the EC and wait for its decision,” he said when contacted.

Fairus, 33, was among the youngest politicians to assume one of the highest posts in the Penang government after Pakatan swept to power in the last general election.

But his appointment inevitably invoked jealously, resulting in the mushrooming of ‘Anti-Fairus’ blogsites allegedly linked to rival PKR leaders in Penang.

PKR leader Anwar has indicated that the party candidate for the Penanti by-election will be nominated for the DCM 1 and executive councillor posts vacated by Fairus.

State PKR deputy chief and former academician Dr Mansor Othman is tipped to be the likely party candidate for the by-election.

Fairus's press statement