'PKR leaders don't even trust their own members'

M Nyana Segaran, recently suspended by PKR for allegedly enticing members to quit the Bayan Baru division, is frustrated at the party leadership.

Nyana Segaran ( right ), who received a show cause letter asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him, said he was unhappy with the party for its lack of trust in its own members.

“I am very disappointed (at the party’s latest action against me). The party’s leadership does not even trust its own members,” he told Malaysiakini .

However, the ex-PKR Bayan Baru division leader, who was accused of attempting to “taint and destroy” the party’s reputation denied being suspended for his alleged actions.

He claimed that he had only received a letter from disciplinary committee chairperson Tan Kwee Kwong on Thursday asking him to show cause in seven days.

“I am shocked to learn that I am also suspended,” he said, referring to Malaysiakini ’s report on the matter yesterday.

‘Carnival not political’

About being the key person behind an Indian cultural carnival today ( top ) which Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to attend, Nyana Segaran explained that he was merely part of the organising committee as an NGO representative.

He claimed that the invitation to Najib and other BN leaders including Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon was not his decision alone, as there were other members from across the political divide in the committee.

He said he was no longer a PKR party leader but merely an ordinary member and questioned why he could not help an NGO organise a cultural event for Penangites.

“I am no longer a party division leader, I am just an ordinary member, so why should it be wrong to organise this event with an NGO?” he asked.

Nyana Segaran also referred to a media statement  issued by Penang PKR secretary Maktar Shapee who had said the former would be announcing his departure from the party at the contentious event at 4pm today at the Penang International Sports Arena.

He denied that he would be parting ways with PKR, saying he was surprised at the speculation spread by certain quarters.

Meanwhile, Tan, who issued Nyana Segaran the letter, said that disciplinary action would be taken against Nyana Segaran without further notice if he failed to respond to the show cause letter within the stipulated time.

PKR still chasing frogs

In an immediate response to the issue, Penang Parti Rakyat Malaysia chief Gary Nair took PKR to task for accepting any 'Tom, Dick and Harry' into the party.

Nair, who is also the party’s national vice-chair, said PKR was currently paying the price for “welcoming several frogs who have now jumped ship” to join BN.

He added that he had advised the party leadership, including PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, to be wary about accepting a former Gerakan and MIC leader like Nyana Segaran, who supposedly brought along with him 3,500 members when he joined PKR after 2008.

Nair said he was speaking in the capacity of someone who is rather familiar with Nyana Segaran’s attitude.

"He came into PKR with a lot of fanfare. But where are those members now? During the party's Bayan Baru election, he could not even get enough votes to become division leader and was defeated by Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tsin,” said Nair.

"Anwar and PKR should learn their lesson; there had already been so many frogs in the party, but will they ever learn?" he asked.

‘It’s not even Ponggal’

Nair then advised the Indian community not to be fooled by the BN's tactics to lure opposition members into their fold.

The Indian community, he added, are not beggars, who can be enticed with “free Indian food, lucky draws, entertainment and a Ponggal celebration”, referring squarely to the cultural event today that has gained a lot of airtime over radio lately.

"By the way, there is no Ponggal in April, the festival is celebrated only in January" said Nair sarcastically, adding, "Please do not use Ponggal to play politics just to satisfy one man's pleasure and ambition."

Nair also attacked Nyana Segaran for his poor past record, adding that Penangites had thrown out the BN in the last general election because of politicians who lacked credibility.

"Indians, wake up, do not be fooled by cheapskate politicians,” he added.