Ezam Mohd Nor today confirmed he has relinquished all his posts in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and stated that he had posted his resignation letter to the party's Selangor chairperson Khalid Ibrahim.

Ezam, who is PKR Selangor deputy chairperson and Shah Alam division head, was responding to a news report in the Star today which cast aspersions on his resignation.

The report quoted PKR information chief Tian Chua as saying that Ezam did not resign from any of his posts and such rumours have become a "seasonal occurrence".

Meanwhile, Khalid told malaysiakini that he has yet to receive the resignation letter.

"As far as I am concerned, I have not received any letter and not heard anything from him. There is a lot of gossip, but the status quo remains," he said when contacted.

"Even if we have received it, there is a certain process. I as the (Selangor) chairperson will have to call for a state meeting to decide whether we accept his resignation," he added.

Commenting on the apparent confusion, Ezam said he had posted the letter on Sunday and that Khalid would have to wait for a further day or two.

"My decision to resign is final. I was the Selangor deputy chief, so I only need to inform the chairperson (Khalid). It does not need to involve (the party's) federal leaders," he added when contacted.

Ezam has faxed a copy of his resignation letter to malaysiakini ( see below ). In the letter dated Feb 11, Ezam said, among others, that he had made his decision after careful consideration.

However, the former PKR Youth chief, who was once considered a rising star in the party, told malaysiakini that he would remain as an ordinary member in the opposition party.

'Political game'

On claims that he is playing a 'political game' rooted in his differences with PKR vice-president Azmin Ali ( left ), he replied: "They can say whatever they want. My focus now is on Gerak."

Gerak is the Malay acronym for the Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption, which was started by the politician last year.

Asked if he would retract his resignation if the state committee refuses to accept it, he said: "I am already 40 this year and this is probably the toughest decision I have ever made in my life. It is final."

Meanwhile, the Star report also claimed that his speech at a closed-door session at his house in Shah Alam on Tuesday night to announce his resignation did not go down well among some of those who were present.

It said a number of the 100 or so people who turned up were displeased with him for attacking PKR leaders.

According to the report, the situation backfired when some of those present asked him hostile questions while one leader from the Youth wing accused him of behaving like an Umno politician.

Asked about this, Ezam declined to elaborate beyond saying, "I have explained to them that I would like to focus on Gerak. Corruption is so rampant and I would like to make this 'the' issue in the next general elections."

Eyewitnesses who were at the meeting however said that the atmosphere was not hostile as described by the report.

Internal tussle

Ezam was also quizzed on how Azmin and Tian ( photo ) could be in the dark over his resignation when all three of them had attended the Arsenic 2 court hearing for the entire week.

To this, he merely replied: "They are federal leaders."

The PKR leaders were arrested for "illegal assembly" in a 1999 protest which claimed that ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was poisoned with arsenic while in prison.

On the possibility that the party leaders are trying to paper over an internal tussle by denying his resignation, Ezam said that question should be posed to them.

In an interview with malaysiakini on Tuesday, Ezam denied that his decision to quit had anything to do with Azmin.

It is speculated that one of the reasons why the duo have crossed swords is because Azmin is vying for the number two post currently held by Dr Syed Husin Ali while Ezam prefers the status quo.

According to party organ Suara Keadilan , Azmin has been nominated for the deputy president post by three party divisions. The party polls is scheduled for May. So far, only five out of the 167 divisions have met to make their nominations.

Meanwhile, Anwar has bagged three nominations for president, while his wife and incumbent leader, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, has two nominations. But she is expected to give way to Anwar.

Ezam had also denied rumours of his close ties with Umno leaders and his alleged intention of rejoining his former party.