PKR leaders have rubbished claims of a campaign against embattled MP Zulkifli Noordin, instead saying that he had acted “unfairly” for airing his grouses to the press yesterday.

zulkifli noordin Zulkifli, ( left) who was issued a show cause letter on Feb 16, had lashed out at the party leadership for fixing his disciplinary committee hearings on days when he will be abroad.

The Kulim Kubu Bahru MP is currently in South Korea attending a leadership conference along with 12 other MPs, and will be there until Feb 25.

According to party vice-president Syed Husin Ali, however, Zulkifli could have replied and asked to be heard on another date, but did not do so.         

“Instead, he immediately called for a press conference. This is just typical of him,” he said, declining to comment further until the matter is discussed at the weekly political bureau meeting tonight.

johari abdul interview 170308 Echoing his view, political bureau member Johari Abdul ( right ) said Zulkifli could have explained himself in writing if he is unable to attend the hearing.

“Any organisation, even the boy scouts, has procedures. The committee has sent a show cause letter to him, so it is now his turn to reply.

“If he has 23, or however many reasons, respond in black and white, and the disciplinary committee can take this into consideration, and call him if anything is unclear.”

‘We could have sacked him’

Johari also expressed disappointment with Zulkifli for accusing vice-president Azmin Ali of penalising him (Zulkifli) before the proceedings.

azmin ali pc in parliament 020709 02 “It is unfair of him to say that (Azmin) is out to get him because, at the (previous) political bureau meeting, Azmin ( left ) and (secretary-general) Saifuddin Nasution were the ones who really fought for (Zulkifli’s) right to be heard,” he said.

PKR communications director Jonson Chong also refuted claims of a political ploy against Zulkifli.

“There is no such thing…if we wanted to sack him, we could have done so. This is not child’s play, but a serious matter,” he said.

Zulkifli came under fire after lodging a police report on Jan 23 against fellow Pakatan Rakyat MP Khalid Samad, over the latter’s statement over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.

Two others who have received a show cause letter are MPs Tan Tee Beng and Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, who had harshly criticised Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng.

Zahrain has since left the party , having announced his resignation Feb 12.

Party supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim, who ruffled feathers by calling for Zulkifli’s sacking, has not been issued a letter to date.