Leaders of PKR’s Jelutong division have dismissed the contents of an anonymous text message that states they are about to jump ship to Umno.

The text message has been in circulation since Saturday, with journalists also having  received it.

It reads: ‘PKR Jelutong division leaders will announce departure from party together with 313 members, most of them Youth members on Tuesday, March 6, 10am at the Umno Jelutong headquarter. Circulate.’

NONE However, Youth deputy secretary Khairil Anuar Kamarudin (left) said this is part of a systematic effort by several individuals and NGO members to destroy his credibility and political career.

Khairil Anuar said since last July, when he had organised a programme dubbed 'Kampung Kota Giam for the rakyat’, he had been attacked with slanderous accusations connecting him with several issues.

These include the eviction of villagers from Kampung Pokok Asam for development there and allegations of misappropriation of funds related to Masjid Jamek Jelutong.

Khairil Anuar said certain quarters had also attempted to undermine his reputation in the Sekolah Kebangsaan Jelutong Parent-Teacher Association.

"They have failed to destroy me at all levels and so they start circulating this (text message) that is clearly related to me as one of this division's top leaders," he told reporters today.

"I believe this effort is merely to undermine the good relationship we have with DAP and PAS in Jelutong, but I can confidently say I will never join Umno or BN even if I have to beg.”

When contacted, Penang Umno Youth head Shaik Hussein Mydin said he had checked with his colleagues in Jelutong Umno and that they were not aware of the issue.

He denied that the text message had been circulated by Umno or its Jelutong division leaders.

Shaik Hussein laughed, and said, "This could be PKR's cheap political game. Maybe they merely want recognition from Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng."

NONE PKR Jelutong chief Shahul Hameed (right) said no member has resigned from the division which has 1,990 registered members, of whom 768 are Youth members, since 2008.

"No one has sent in a resignation letter. Recently, we signed up 20 more members," Shahul said, showing reporters the new membership forms.

Jelutong Umno ‘in limbo’

DAP’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi said he too had received the text message and that he believes this to be an attempt to threaten Pakatan Rakyat as the general election is said to be close.

Ooi said Jelutong Umno was near-extinct, as its 17 branches have been in a limbo after then state information chief and Penaga assemblyperson Azhar Ibrahim announced that they had been dissolved .

NONE "What is the quality of their leadership? If they are so divided, the people, especially the Malays, are not going to place their trust in them," said Ooi (left) .

"So since they are bankrupt of issues, they have to play this political game.”

He praised the good working relationship between DAP, PAS and PKR with state government agencies like the Penang Municipal Council, in delivering fast and efficient services to the people.

Never before in the history of Penang have houses been repaired in 10 days after a fire, which has happened in Jelutong under Pakatan's leadership, Ooi said.

"Such good deeds are hard to be manipulated, twisted or turned. Please go and do something good for the people, don't send such SMSes around," he told Umno.