MCA Bukit Bintang division chief Lee Chong Meng today announced he is quitting the party and formally joining PKR.

He said that initially he could not decide if he should quit the party but when the MCA president Chua Soi Lek yesterday announced that he has been slapped with a three-year suspension for abusing allocations, he finally made up his mind to leave.

Chua said the central committee was acting on the disciplinary committee's recommendation .

"I initially didn't wish to make such an important decision so soon, but now I have made up my mind. I now formally announce joining PKR."

Asked on the rumour that he had joined PKR as early as June, he admitted that he had filled in an application form then, but did not sign it.

lee chong meng Lee ( right ) explained he has deep feelings for the MCA, and couldn't really make up his mind.

When queried on reports that he was recently elected as the PKR Bukit Bintang chief, Lee said that he was overseas during that period, so he knew nothing about that.

Lee revealed that he has prepared his resignation letter on Sept 25, but only mailed it yesterday after returning from overseas.

Lee also brushed off accusations that he has abused allocations, claiming that was just an excuse to suspend him.

He explained the RM60,000 allocation was for Chinese New Year activities for 2007. He himself was burdened with RM40,000 in additional expenses.

Lee claimed that he has made a police report, and the police investigation had cleared him.