Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng is "very disappointed" with DAP chairperson Karpal Singh for openly supporting Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau and for calling on the PKR central leadership to initiate a probe against him.

Chua, who defected from MCA to PKR in July 2009, was also saddened with Karpal's questioning of his former membership in MCA.

NONE "I said when I was with the MCA that if Umno does not change, MCA would quit BN. Eventually, I quit MCA to safeguard my political belief and also to help more people, despite being stripped of my datukship .

"Yet, I was criticised by Karpal ( left ) like this. I'm very disappointed," Chua told China Press in an interview yesterday.

The former health minister also said the coming general election might be the last election for him as it was time for him to quit, having been active in politics for some 30 years.

Nevertheless, Chua said, as Johor PKR chief he still hoped to contest in the state in the coming general election. However, the final decision would be in the hands of the party.

He stressed that he had never said he wanted to contest in the Bakri or Gelang Patah parliamentary constituencies.

PAS offers to mediate

In related development, Johor PAS urged both Chua and Boo to cease their fire and added that the Islamic party was willing to act as mediator.

However, Johor PAS commissioner Mahfodz Mohamed said, he disagreed with Boo's action of openly criticising Chua.

NONE Mahfodz ( right ) was quoted by Sin Chew Daily as saying that Boo's open outburst could paint Johor Pakatan Rakyat in a bad light and give the impression that the opposition coalition was in chaos before the general election.

The three parties in Johor Pakatan, he said, have almost settled the seat negotiations, with a few constituencies to go.

The dispute over those seats should not be the reason for PKR and DAP attacking each other, he added.

"When I came to know (about the argument), I immediately contacted Boo and Chua to gather more information, but I could only contact one of them.

"I will try to get them back to the negotiation table," the PAS Dewan Ulama deputy chief was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, DAP deputy chairperson Tan Kok Wai gave his backing to Boo, saying that the state opposition leader merely told the truth.

As such, there would be no disciplinary action against Boo, Tan said.

Yesterday, gag orders were issued to Boo and Chua following Boo's earlier statement slamming Chua as an 'overlord' who had damaged the relationship between Johor PKR and DAP.

The two leaders were also directed to settle their disputes over seat allocation through internal channels.