PKR has described the move by several of its members of parliament in leaving the party as a 'cleansing' process for the PKR.

"The action by several members of parliament to leave the party is a cleansing process which is most welcomed. We believe when there is no more dirt, the skin becomes cleaner and the body is healthier," said PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali.

In a statement today, he claimed that the three resignations so far would not 'destroy' the party but would instead make it stronger.

"History had shown that PAS and the DAP had faced even bigger challenges in their initial stages. Several of their key leaders had left the party. From the DAP, Goh Hock Guan (secretary-general), Richard Ho (senior leader), Lee Lam Thye and others had left the party. Some people had predicted that the DAP would fold. Instead, it became stronger until today

"From PAS, Asri Muda (president), Osman Abdullah (secretary-general), Nakhaie Ahmad (vice-president) and many others had left the party. The Umno leaders had then expected and hoped that PAS would wind up. But what happened? PAS became stronger as proven now," he said.

Personal, financial problems

He claimed that most of the MPs who had left the party were facing personal and financial problems, and some of them were now being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"Furthermore, they did not look after their respective constituencies and had never voiced the problems of the people or looked after their interest. They did not show a good performance in Parliament," he said.

In addition, Syed Husin also blamed Umno and the Barisan Nasional for purportedly promising various rewards to all the state assemblypersons and MPs who had left the party.

- Bernama