About 250 Lembah Pantai Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members today quit the party and formed a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Persatuan Gerakan Semangat 1Malaysia (Sesama), which supports the Barisan Nasional (BN).     

The division's former information vice-chief Raymond Suppiah, on behalf of the 250 people, said the decision was made due to their dissatisfaction with the leadership of Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar and other PKR central leaders.     

"This decision was made voluntarily. There were many reasons for our dissatisfaction such as that voiced by (Padang Serai MP) N Gobalakrishnan that there were no special considerations for the Indians in PKR," he said at a press conference in Brickfields, KL, today.     

On Sesama's formation, Raymond who joined PKR since its establishment about 12 years ago, said they were still waiting for approval by the Registrar of Societies.     

Raymond, who is also Sesama president, said about 400 had so far agreed to join the association and the association targeted to sign up 4,000 new members by the end of March.     

He said Sesama would focus on welfare and poverty-eradication, besides fostering closer relations among the various communities in Lembah Pantai.      

Former Lembah Pantai PKR welfare and community bureau head M Parthiban, who was appointed Sesama deputy president, said he had sent his resignation letter through email to Nurul Izzah two weeks ago.     

"She did not respond to the email but noted through SMS, my contribution to the party," said Parthiban who joined PKR also about 12 years ago.     

- Bernama