The Penang Pakatan government may soon have a “Fairus” headache if rumours proved to be true that outgoing Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin would declare himself as an independent Penanti assemblyperson.

mohammad fairus penang deputy cm deny resign 160708 01 It is learnt that the embattled Fairus, who is now under graft investigation for alleged involvement in illegal quarry activities, plans to do just that in the next few days.

But anticipating this, Fairus’ party Parti Keadilan Rakyat may produce an official resignation letter signed by the Penanti elected representative that he had vacated his state seat.

The letter is said to be signed by Fairus, 33, when he submitted his resignation letter on March 21 to vacate his deputy chief minister post and state executive portfolios to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Fairus’ resignation is effective from April 8.

It is learnt that the PKR top leadership is withholding the letter until after tomorrow’s simultaneous by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai.

But, anticipating a PKR move to declare his seat vacant, it is learnt that Fairus is wants to pre-empt it by declaring himself as an independent Penanti assemblyperson in the next few days.

Both scenarios are reflective of what happened in Perak and Kedah since early this year.

PKR may declare seat vacant this week

In Perak in February, three former Pakatan assemblypersons - Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Fong, Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering state representative Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu - declared themselves independent assemblypersons who are ‘BN friendly’.

Then, the Pas-led Perak government announced that Hee, Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman have resigned as elected representatives, and handed over their purported letters to the Election Commission to declare their seats vacant and to call for by-elections.

The EC, however, turned down the Perak government’s request and said the three were independent assemblypersons, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

It is learnt that Fairus would use this precedent to declare himself an independent and thwart any attempt by the PKR top leadership to force him into resignation and eventual political oblivion.

Meanwhile, the PKR leadership may be planning to declare the Penanti seat vacant by announcing Fairus’ purported resignation this week.

By doing so, the party would emulate the same tactic used to deal with former Bukit Selambau assemblyperson and Kedah state executive councillor V Arumugam, who was compelled to resign from his exco and state seat when it is learnt that he was on the verge of hopping to MIC.

Allegedly received RM10,000 via a bank account

Fairus is being investigated for receiving funds to sponsor a trip to London last June from a quarry developer in Penang.

The former deputy chief minister has allegedly received RM10,000 via a bank account.

The money funded Fairus trip to London where he accompanied Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy to the Club de Madrid international conference. The Madrid club is an international organisation for all former ministers of governments across the globe.

Ramasamy has gone to the conference on an official state trip, while Fairus accompanied him in his personal capacity.

mohammad fairus penanti state seat penang 230309 It’s learnt that a team from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized several documents and ‘interviewed’ Fairus’ special assistant Rosmah Salleh at the 52nd floor in Komtar. The raid was carried out between 10am and 11.30am.

Lim confirmed the MACC raid and said the state government will extend its fullest cooperation to the investigation.

Fairus was detained in Johor on March 26 by MACC. He was released after undergoing hours of questioning.

A Penang government leader said he would not be surprised if Fairus were to seek “solace and protection” from Barisan Nasional from the graft charges, thus declaring himself as a “BN-friendly” independent assemblyperson.

“When one is desperate, one would do anything to save one’s skin,” said the leader.

Pakatan now has 29 (DAP 19, PKR 9 and PAS 1) seats against BN’s 11 (all Umno) in the Penang legislature.

However when contacted, Fairus denied the speculations.

"No, no, no," he said before hanging up the telephone.