Bayan Baru PKR members jumping ship to BN?

Speculation is rife that Penang’s Bayan Baru constituency is soon to witness a load of PKR members jumping ship to Barisan Nasional.

The party’s Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson, Sim Tze Tsin, warned of a former division leader who is going around enticing members to join BN.

The ‘disgruntled’ leader, who reportedly lost in the party’s election last year, is alleged to be pulling his political stunt soon, ahead of the Merlimau and Kerdau polls, said Sim ( left ).

Alternatively, he may reserve his actions for the coming general election, highly rumoured to be held this year or next, added Sim, who is PKR Bayan Baru division chief.

The next general polls is, however, not due until 2013.

“This leader is working in cahoots with another ex-division leader, who quit the party last year. He is going around the constituency, talking to members and persuading them to join him,” Sim told Malaysiakini .

“I have already received reports from members over the matter and have informed the state PKR leadership... I hope they will take disciplinary action soon,” he added.

Sim warned the party’s Bayan Baru members to be aware of the threat facing the party.

“Please do not be tricked into falling into this person’s trap,” Sim, who is a former political aide to party supremo Anwar Ibrahim, told party members.

However, Sim is uncertain whether money is being used to lure the members, and said the party would be monitoring the situation.

6,000 PKR members in Bayan Baru

According to the first time assemblyperson, the Bayan Baru constituency has close to 6,000 PKR members, according to its latest records.

"Since early this year, about 200 have joined the party," said Sim.

Yesterday, PKR claimed that concerted attempts were being made by Umno to bribe its divisional leaders into quitting the party ahead of the double by-elections next month, in a move to sabotage Pakatan Rakyat campaign.

However they could not furnish any evidence except that they had received several 'internal reports' in the past two days, giving information about the phenomenon.

“The latest efforts are being done by Pahang Umno to persuade five PKR divisional leaders to quit the party and bring 500 members with them ahead of the Kerdau by-election,” said PKR communication director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad ( left ).

However he refused to disclose the identity of the divisional leaders involved because investigations are still ongoing.

The same phenomenon is also happening in Malacca, where the Merlimau by-election will be held, and Kuala Lumpur, Nik Nazmi added.