The controversial former MCA veteran Lee Chong Meng finally jogged himself into ‘remembering' that he joined the PKR in January while being a life member of the MCA.

NONE His excuse was the lack of provisions in both parties forbidding dual membership for ordinary members.

He stressed that he officially quit the MCA on Sept 25, and the following day he was returned uncontested as PKR Bukit Bintang division chief.

Lee ( left) had claimed the he could not recall the date when he become a PKR member the last time he was contacted by Malaysiakini .

Many parties allow dual membership claim

"I know that many Umno members hold PAS membership, and many MIC members are member of the PPP and the Gerakan, it is not a strange thing," he said at a press conference held at his office yesterday.

However, when asked to provide proof to back his claims, his withdrew his statement straightaway.

Lee, a veterinarian by profession who enjoys introducing himself as Dr Ayam, denied that he joined PKR on Oct 7, saying that on that day he was accepting PKR membership forms from 50 of his hardcore supporters, but this was misunderstood by the journalists present who had thought that he was also joining the party.

He then said what had really taken place at the last press conference (Oct7), was that his supporters had handed over their membership application forms to him which he passed on to the PKR Bukit Bintang division to be forwarded to PKR headquarters.

"Many misunderstood that I joined the party at that time, which isn't true. I joined the PKR in January. It is very obvious that any member who joins the party after June is not allowed to contest in the party elections," he said.

On Oct 5, the MCA had suspended Lee's membership for three years for abusing government allocations in 2007.

NONE Realising that something was amiss, PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali ( right ) had said a few days later that an obvious mistake had taken place, and the party's leadership would deliberate on Lee's status soon, pending confirmation from the party election committee.

Lee claimed that the PKR political bureau had resolved his membership issue at the last meeting.

"The political bureau had investigated, it validated my PKR membership and my Bukit Bintang division chief's post," he said.

‘PKR does not allow double membership'

Later, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution stressed that the PKR constitution does not allow dual membership.

"No, our constitution does not allow that," said Saifuddin when contacted by Malaysiakini .

He also said that the last political bureau meeting ended on an inconclusive note, shooting down Lee's claim.

This was because the bureau had insufficient information to arrive at a firm decision, Saifuddin said.

anwar pc 290607 saifuddin nasution "Perhaps Lee can provide the chronology, tell us the whole story," Saifuddin ( left) added, while slamming him for claiming otherwise at the press conference. "He has no right to announce anything on behalf of the bureau."

He also said that the usual procedure is for the political bureau to inform the general secretariat of any decision made before relaying it to the concerned parties.

Meanwhile, an MCA disciplinary committee member, who requested anonymity, told Malaysiakini that the party, too, does not allow dual membership.