All three PKR state assemblypersons from Bayan Baru in Penang projected a façade of unity in the wake of moves by dissidents to engineer an exodus of members, reputedly for the BN.

NONE The elected PKR legislators for Batu Maung (Abdul Malik Abul Kassim), Pantai Jerejak (Sim Tze Tsin, left ) and Batu Uban (S Raveenthran), all within the Bayan Baru constituency, told a press conference today at the party's offices in Sungai Ara that they do not anticipate a bolt of large numbers from the party's stable.

The three state legislators were joined at the press conference by all three PKR town councilors who are from the Bayan Baru division. They were Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Tan Seng Keat and Ramlah Asiahoo.

The division, unique among parliamentary divisions throughout Malaysia, returned all PKR candidates to elected office in the general elections of March 2008.

The elected MP was Zahrain Mohd Hashim, who defected to the independent benches early last year, and the state assemblypersons were Abdul Malik, Sim and Raveenthran.

The trio has been resolute in resisting fissiparous tendencies, triggered by Zahrain's departure. Until he left, Zahrain was the Penang PKR chief.

Unnamed party dissident

Sim said at the press conference, "The person in question has a well-known tendency to bring into the party he joins a contingent of members and to take them out when he is discontented."

Without citing the name of the dissident who is allegedly fomenting an exodus of members, Sim said the implied person's track record testified to his tendency to defect to other parties when he failed to gain his ends.

The unnamed leader, who lost in the race for a divisional post in internal PKR elections last November, has reportedly formed a communal-based organisation which is scheduled to host a gathering at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) on April 2.

zahrain attend welcome back programme by bayan baru folks 200211 press conference No less than Prime Minister Najib Razak is scheduled to grace the event at Pisa in the afternoon before attending a Football Asssociation of Penang dinner later at a leading hotel. The president of the FAP is Zahrain ( photo, right ).

Last month, the same leader organised a gathering in Bayan Baru for Zahrain in conjunction with the Indian harvest festival of Pongal.

The same leader was also at a silat gathering in the constituency after Chinese New Year in which Zahrain was guest of honour.

The dissident was formerly a divisional leader in MIC which he left to briefly join the Gerakan before returning to MIC. He joined PKR after the political tsunami of March 2008.

Bayan Baru PKR members jumping ship to BN?