Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim today announced that he is letting go of all his party posts and quitting from PKR with immediate effect.

He will become an independent member of Parliament but one ‘not friendly to BN,’ he added.

While acknowledging that he is elected by the people, he said that he also has to consider his own interests: "There must be a balance between the people's interests and my interests".

However Zahrain made assurances that he would not shirk his responsibilities and continue to serve the people to the best of his ability. 

Word on the political grapevine in Penang had churned late yesterday that Zahrain and three other fellow dissidents of PKR would call a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning to make a major announcement.

NONE However, Zahrain was the only PKR MP at the press conference held at 11am at a hotel in Petaling Jaya.

Though former PKR Secretary general Salehuddin Hashim was there at the press conference, when approached by reporters he said that he was there only "in support of a friend".

Zahrain cited his disappointment with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his disillusionment with PKR and Pakatan Rakyat as the major reasons for his resignation.

Zahrain described Lim's rule in Penang as "chauvinistic, arrogant and communistic".

He said he was jumping ship because he no longer agrees with the "captains" in Pakatan.

According to Zahrain, he does not want to be part of a sinking ship and be blamed by the rakyat for being associated with Pakatan's mockery of the people's trust.

He said, "Pakatan will not last long. It is people like Lim Guan Eng that shall destroy Pakatan. I will not be a part of this group of people which are destroying my country, my race and my religion".

Zahrai NONE n ( right ) opines that Pakatan no longer embodies the principles of justice which they "once trumpeted throughout the land".

"Today's PKR and Pakatan is now a far cry from practicing the pure struggle of 'reformasi' which de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim himself, a friend of 30 years, invited me to join," he added.

While he said that he was prepared to stay for the long haul and continue his fight to rectify the wrongs that Lim and Pakatan are now perpetuating, he believes that it is better for him to just leave the stage and avoid 'more headaches' and further complications. 

Relentless criticism of Penang CM

For a fortnight now Zahrain has been courting his party’s ire with steadily mounting criticism aimed at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Joining him in this targeting of the Pakatan Rakyat chief executive for Penang were fellow PKR MPs Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal, Penang), Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim Bandar Baru, Kedah) and more recently, Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur).

The attacks appeared to be coordinated to drive a wedge between DAP and its main Pakatan partner in the Penang state government, PKR.

The drumfire of criticism was timed to exploit the brouhaha in Penang over alleged victimising of unlicensed traders, mainly Malay, by the DAP-led state government.

The Penang Malay Chambers of Commerce, a bastion of support for Umno, has kept up a steady line of fire at Lim for alleged injustice in the handling of the issue.

Unhappy with Anwar

Zahrain, the former Penang PKR chief, has been unhappy with party supremo Anwar Ibrahim from the time the latter turned down his request to become the party’s candidate for the Penanti by-election in May last year.

NONE Anwar chose his former political secretary Mansor Othman ( left ) for the poll which was forced when the fumbling Fairus Khairuddin obeyed the PKR supremo’s behest to step down.  

Once elected, Mansor went on to replace Fairus as deputy chief minister and, from last October, PKR chief for Penang, replacing Zahrain.  

Zahrain has also been unhappy with Lim who had ordered that the contract for the management of the Bukit Jambul Golf and Country resort be re-tendered after it was awarded to a “two dollar company.”  

Zahrain was chairman of the board of the Penang Development Corporation company that owns the golf course.

'No big loss'

Anwar, when met at the Court of Appeal, said he regretted Zahrain's decision to leave PKR but reiterated the latter’s attack on Lim Guan Eng was uncalled for.

"It is certainly unprecedented as he has betrayed all those who had worked hard to win the seats for PKR and Pakatan."

NONE Anwar disagreed that the DAP what was described as ‘untouchable’ and said that PKR, PAS and DAP had sat down together to discuss various issues.

"It was only yesterday that we met, Hadi, Kit Siang and me," he said, adding he did not want to comment further. He also did not respond to questions that more PKR reps may leave the party.

DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said Zahrain's departure was no loss.

"Pakatan Rakyat is too strong in Penang to be affected. It is no big loss as Zahrain is no big character to warrant saying it is a big loss."

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