According to his former comrades in PKR, any fool would have noticed that Bakar Arang assemblyperson's Tan Wei Shu's resignation was linked to the looming Hulu Selangor by-election.

One of his harshest critics yesterday questioned the timing of Tan's  resignation decision , charging that it was planned to coincide with the polls.

parliament briefing 030408 johari abdul PKR Sungai Petani assemblyperson Johari Abdul ( left ), who reportedly urged Tan to make way for a better representative to sit as Kedah exco, said that if the latter was not sore about being dropped from the seat, he should not have announced his quit decision yesterday.

"Why resign now? Why not last month? If truly it has nothing to do with anything, why does he pick such a time?" questioned Johari.

"Even a fool will not believe that there was nothing behind Tan's resignation," he added.

Tan's announcement came just two days before the nomination date of April 17.

At yesterday's press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Tan cited disappointment with PKR leadership as his reason for disowning the party.

Charges and counter charges

He claimed he had been " played out by party leaders" who used him for their own personal interests.

Johari , who is also PKR's membership development director, had reportedly stated in a Malay language paper early this month that Tan must make way for Sidam assemblyperson,Tan Show Kang, to be appointed as state exco so that he can draw a pension.

NONE However, Johari denied that he was responsible for the action to remove Tan from the state exco list.

"I am sorry for not defending Tan ( right )but this was not my decision. It was the committee's decision and the people could see his performance for themselves, " he added.

Meanwhile, independent MP for Lunas Mohd Radzhi Salleh defended Tan by saying that he was a "man of principle" and that it was unlikely that the BN was behind his resignation.

Radzhi, who quit PKR in August last year at the peak of the Permatang Pasir by-election, citing loss of confidence in the party leadership, said the BN had no reason to "buy" Tan, as his resignation could not help the latter regain control of Kedah.

"You think Tan can be bought? What is the reason for the BN, MCA or Gerakan to buy Tan?" he queried.

"This is the problem now within the PKR, they will never admit their fault, and continue to blame the BN for all their problems," said Radzhi, who is tourism, community development and human resources committee chairperson.

"I have known Tan before the elections, and I find him to be a man of principles and he is very hard-working and his priority is always the rakyat," he added.

Gerakan: PAS dominance led Tan to quit PKR