Port Klang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah has cited PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial as among the reasons for him to quit the party.

NONE At a press conference this evening, Badrul said he's getting suspicious over Anwar's continuous delays in proceeding with the trial and his refusal to elaborate on the matter to party members.

"As a Muslim who steadfastly holds to Islamic principles, a leader's morals is paramount in gaining my support," he said, reading from a prepared text.

He also claimed that PKR president and Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had refused to explain about the sodomy allegations.

"This is the main reason for my decision (to quit PKR) because I'm a Muslim and a public figure. I cannot compromise on moral issues, such as the ones faced by PKR leaders," he said.

Asked on why he had waited until now to raise the sodomy issue, which began last year, Badrul did not offer a direct answer but stressed that he would not compromise on moral issues.

Badrul today announced that he was quitting from PKR to become a BN-friendly Independent state assemblyperson.

His decision came just hours after Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim recommended to the party bosses to force Badrul to resign from being an elected representative due to his under-performance.

Made a ‘step-child'

Badrul also alleged that he was made a ‘step-child' of the PKR-led Selangor government, which had stemmed his flow of state allocations since March.

He claimed that the state government had refused to coordinate the disbursement of funds with him and had opened a separate service centre in Pendamar Indah to cater for his constituents.

"It is as though I have been made a step-child, compared to other state assemblypersons... This is an attempt to sideline me as an elected representative of the area," he said.

When asked for his theories on why he was being made a ‘step-child', Badrul merely replied: "Ask the menteri besar".

Earlier this year, Khalid announced that his political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was taking over certain duties in view of Badrul's non-performance.

Nik Nazmi is also Seri Setia state assemblyperson.

‘ I'm still meeting the public'

Asked to defend allegations that he was underperforming, Badrul blamed it on the fact that this was due to his purse being held by the party.

azlan "How can I serve? I'm not a state executive council. There is another coordinator, meaning there are two service centres in the area. The allocations were taken over by the menteri besar's secretary. What can I do?

"I still go out and meet the public. I'm not the type who likes fanfare. I just go with my driver to look at the situation in my area," he said.

Since the fall of the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government in February, rumours have been rife that Badrul would be defecting to Umno.

Rumours intensified after his protracted absence from state legislative assembly sittings and in public, but these were quelled after Badrul made a public statement stating his commitment to PKR.

However, rumours began churning again after Badrul failed to attend a meeting with Khalid in September and was spotted at Klang Umno chief Mazlynoor Abd Latif's aidilfitri open house event in early October.

Accompanied by Ezam's men

During the press conference today, Badrul was sitting next to former Selangor PKR secretary Nizam Rosli, who was seen whispering into the ears of the former after almost every question posed by reporters.

Nizam is known to be a close ally of former PKR strongman and youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor, who left the party after falling out with Anwar to join Umno.

Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Nizam said Badrul had sought his help to coordinate the press conference. Some Ezam supporters were also spotted at the press conference.

Badrul was mostly evasive during the five-minutes of question and answer session before rushing off.

Below is an excerpt of the session:

Will you join Umno?

Not sure yet.

Were you forced out?

It's in here (press statement). The newspapers had covered this extensively.

Why did you raise the sodomy issue only now?

That is why I said... I cannot compromise with leaders who have moral issues.

The most serious allegation leveled against you is that you were underperforming. How do you defend yourself?

It's in the statement. My allocations were blocked. How can I serve? I'm not a state executive council. There is another coordinator, meaning there are two service centres in the area. The allocations were taken over by the menteri besar's secretary. What can I do?

I still go out and meet the public. I'm not the type who likes fanfare. I just go with my driver to look at the situation in my area.

There are a lot of complaints from the public that you are not performing your duties.

Who is complaining? Are they from the party or are they voters?

Have you complained to the menteri besar about the state allocations?

I've voiced it out.

Why do you suspect that you have been made a ‘step-child'?

Ask the menteri besar.

Are you trying to avoid a by-election?

I want to continue serving my electorate as an independent candidate

Why are you supporting BN? What attracted you to BN?

It is in my statement

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