Zulkifli Noordin, who was sacked from the opposition PKR last Saturday, has confirmed that he will be an independent representative in Parliament.

 

"I wrote to the (Parliament) speaker (Pandikar Amin Mulia) this morning to inform him that I have become an Independent MP with immediate effect," said the Kulim Bandar Baru MP yesterday.

NONE With this annoucement, Zulkifli will be joining four other former opposition lawmakers as Independents when Parliament resumes its sitting next Monday.

The four are Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim, Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), Mohsin Samsuri (Bagan Serai) and Ibrahim Ali (Pasir Mas).

According to Zulkifli, he preferred to be an Independent for now and does not plan to join any party.  

He denied reports that he would be joining PAS.

The controversial MP referred to an online report where PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Man was quoted as saying that PAS is “open to anybody joining the party” on condition that he or she upholds the principles and struggle of the Islamist movement.

Zulkifli said his response that he would seriously consider the invitation was out of respect for Ibrahim as a PAS leader.

“That is all that I said, and this can be seen on my zul4kulim.blogspot ,” he said.

Nevertheless, the lawyer added, “I vow to continue supporting Islam and will struggle to promote and mendaulatkan (make supreme) Islam based on the framework of the Federal Constitution by using the platform that I have.”

Zul not wanted in PAS

Zulkifli also said that he respects the views of PAS treasurer-general Dr Hatta Ramli, who had objected to the controversial MP joining the Islamic party.

“I’ve only recently been divorced. My ‘iddah’ (waiting period before a divorce becomes effective) has not expired yet. Give me a chance to relax. I want to enjoy my ‘iddah’,” quipped Zulkifli.

bagan pinang by election 061009 hatta ramli speech Hatta ( right ) had argued in his blog that PAS was not in need of Zulkifli .

 

Recounting PKR’s “brave decision” to expel Zulkifli for indiscipline in relation to his police report against PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, Hatta described the action as “a call for closer understanding and better working relation among the three parties (in Pakatan Rakyat)”.

“It is always easy to pat our backs during good times, after a victory or when the going is smooth. However, when the odds are against us, the going is tough and the enemies are at the gate, we have to be serious, careful and most importantly, be prepared.

“At this point in time intra- and inter-party discords are simply unacceptable. So I salute PKR's action in its effort to avoid a PAS-PKR discord,” said Hatta.

‘I’m dumbstruck’

Hatta also said he was confounded by the suggestion that PAS bring Zulkifli into its fold.

azlan “I'm dumbstruck! How could anybody even suggest that? He was sacked for trying to ridicule a PAS member, and now we are taking him in?

“I consider this as an opportunistic, unprincipled move. How can one person who has obviously created so much problems to a party, sacked and admonished, be plucked from political wilderness by a friendly organisation into its fold? ” asked Hatta.

He also disclosed that some quarters within his party have proposed to bring up the issue up for discussion at the party’s central committee.

“I will oppose it. We should not even consider discussing this shameful proposition unless we don't value our friendship within Pakatan,” said Hatta.