Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng who quit PKR on Mar 1 said that being independent is not a big change for him.

"It's my seating position (that has changed)... (but) the battle goes on," he said.

The Nibong Tebal MP left the party as he was dissatisfied with Penang state leadership, especially with Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi.

Asked if his support was geared towards the ruling party or his former compatriots, Tan said:

"It's unfair to speculate that way, to us who have come out and to those who haven't come out yet. Everyone has their own problems, whether they are going to stay in Pakatan and fight, or whether they are willing to come out and fight more freely (it NONE is up to them).

"I will not be pro-anyone, but I will be pro-what I believe in."

Commenting on speculation that the defections were engineered, Tan ( right ) sidelined the issue saying that they were "matured adults" and that kind of thing was not easily done.

He hoped that the federal allocations for his area were fairly dealt with so that there is sufficient funds to improve his constituency.

When quizzed on Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim's suggestion of an independent caucus to create a third force in Parliament, Tan said he had nothing concrete to report on that as yet.

However he hoped it would happen as the public deserved to hear a different voice rather than people merely quoting the party line.

"I hope Parliament will allow us to have a small discussion room," he suggested. "As independent voices, I hope we can make a change in the political arena of Malaysia."

Liberated feeling

zulkifli noordin Meanwhile, Kulim Bandar Bharu MP Zulkifli Noordin ( left ), expressed that he felt so much more liberated.

"My role as an independent is much better and more effective because I am not bound by party principles.

He reiterated Tan's stand that he too would not take sides but would act according to his own conscience.

"As long as it is beneficial to the Muslims and the people at large, I will give my support," said Zulkifli.