PKR reinstates membership of man suspended for criticizing leadership

PKR has reinstated the membership of Iswardi Morni who was suspended for criticizing the party leadership on social media.

"Praise to God, I have been found not guilty on all charges. My suspension has been withdrawn and my membership has been reinstated.

“Forgive, not forget. I am back," wrote the Sarawakian ordinary member of the party on Twitter today.

According to Iswardi, who is registered with the Petra Jaya branch in Sarawak, PKR took action against him for criticizing the party decisions on social media and making statements deemed seditious against the party president and secretary-general.

Iswardy (above) was also detained on May 29 last year after his YouTube video, criticising the King and the then government over the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, was circulated on social media.

PKR then distanced itself from the video, saying Iswardi's stance does not reflect that of the party.

The party's communications director Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that Iswardy does not hold any position in the leadership hierarchy of Sarawak PKR or in its central leadership.

PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim had questioned whether it was appropriate for PKR to "abandon or discard" Iswardi following his detention under the Sedition Act, as the party had been a vocal critic of the law.

On June 1, Iswardi pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to a charge of issuing a statement on his Facebook page that was deemed seditious and allegedly insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Human rights group, Article 19 later called for the sedition charge against Iswardy to be dropped.

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