Penang PKR chairman Mansor Othman expects at least five more party members, including elected representatives, to leave the party soon.

Mansor, who is Penang deputy chief minister I, told reporters today that  there were several unhappy PKR members who were not performing in the party and were expected to leave in the next few weeks.

He was commenting on the departure of former Penanti assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin and Nibong Tebal member of parliament from PKR.

Speaking to reporters during a visit by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to victims of the Kampung Sungai Nibong Tengah fire in Penang, he urged frustrated members to quit the party instead of making negative statements against it.

"We do not worry about members leaving the party as we receive about 30,000 people joining the party every year," he said.

He said Mohammad Fairus, his predecessor, still owed the state government RM100,000.

"It is very normal for the state government to loan the money to Mohammad Fairus due to his position previously but it is very abnormal for him not to pay back," he said.

He said the state government used to deduct the money from Mohammad Fairus's salary but after he left, no payment was made.

He believed that Mohammad Fairus had borrowed the money to purchase a luxury car.

Mohammad Fairus resigned as deputy chief minister I on March 21 last year after quitting as Penanti assemblyman.

Sec-gen: No upheaval in PKR

In a related development, the party also said there was no upheaval in the party as claimed by certain quarters although several of its leaders had quit citing dissatisfaction with the top leadership.

 

anwar pc 290607 saifuddin nasution PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) described the recent developments in the party as an improvement process, saying those who had hitherto resigned were from among the problematic members.

"The fact is that the three (members) who resigned are from among those having to face the party's disciplinary board and the people can themselves gauge them.

"There is no upheaval in the party and PKR remains strong," he told reporters in Kota Bharu.   

Saifudin was asked to comment on the resignations of Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

    

Zahrain and Tan are now independent MPs while Mohammad Fairus has joined Umno.

Saifudin  dismissed a claim by former PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim that more than 10 PKR MPs and state assemblymen would quit the party and become independent elected representatives.

"Anyone can claim that 10 or 15 MPs and state assemblymen will leave the party. I do not believe such a thing will occur," he said.

He said the 500,000 members of the party nationwide would remain loyal to PKR.

- Bernama