PPP president M Kayveas has defended the party's notice to Senator T Murugiah, demanding that his former blue-eyed boy step down as deputy minister in the prime minister's department within 14 days.

kayveas hq pc 050609 Kayveas said the notice was based on Article 6.10 of the party constitution which stated that an individual who cease to be a member of party must relinquish any legislative, governmental or public body post held based on nominations by the party.

Murugiah was sacked from the party on May 16, a decision which was reaffirmed by the Registrar of Societies, but he has refused to relinquish deputy ministerial post.

Yesterday, Murugiah poured scorn at Kayveas for the notice , claiming that the latter failed to differentiate "executive and political powers" because his appointment as deputy minister was the prime minister's prerogative.

Commenting on this, Kayveas chided Murugiah for lack of legal knowledge and stressed that the notice was based on the party constitution.

"I've been practicing law since 1985 and I'm a constitutional lawyer. Surely I know much more than a guy that has no legal background," Kayveas told Malaysiakini .

NONE "Don't turn it around and make it seem as though the party is challenging the PM. Don't always hide behind the PM's name. This is a party issue," he added.

Murugiah was appointed as a senator and then deputy minister following Kayveas' recommendation to the then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. His upper house term ends in mid-2011.

Kayveas also laughed off Murugiah's claims on Saturday that he would be able to take reign of PPP in six months.

"He said that a month ago and he is saying it again now," he said.