Former Kedah PKR exco V Arumugam is currently in a safe location so that he is not subjected to further intimidation and pressure, said state party chief Ahmad Kasim.

“I don’t know where but that is what I was told. Only the party’s top leaders know where he is, ” he said when contacted today.

Arumugam Vengatarakoo pkr kedah Arumugam, who resigned as state assemblyperson for Bukit Selambau and as state exco - following claims of Barisan Nasional (BN) intrusion into his private life - has been ‘missing’ since last week.

His resignation, coming after weeks of speculation that he would be giving up politics altogether, was announced yesterday by Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak.

According to Ahmad, Arumugam has not been in contact with PKR members from Kedah and his decision to resign was only communicated to the central leadership.

“Arumugam informed (PKR de facto ) Anwar Ibrahim of his decision and we learnt from him of the matter. We have not been able to contact Arumugam at all,” said Ahmad.

He further said it is necessary for the party to ‘hide’ Arumugam who has alleged that he has been threatened and intimidated - but also coaxed - to leave PKR for BN, in order to destabilise the Pakatan state government.

In recent weeks, certain details of his personal life have allegedly been used to force him to step down as a state representative.

Early this month, Arumugan had lodged a police report claiming, among others, that there was an attempt to kidnap him and also claimed that he and his officers had received numerous threats.

By-election preparations

Ahmad said that the party is gearing up for a by-election.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, who heads the party’s election bureau, will meet with Kedah PKR members tomorrow evening to discuss related matters.

pakatan ipoh rally 080209 anwar pc Anwar (right) has announced that the party will most likely field in an Indian candidate to replace Arumugam.

Kedah state assembly speaker Abd Isa Ismail is expected to inform the Election Commission of the vacant seat this evening.

Anwar also said that he had met with the retired Royal Malaysia Air Force mechanic who had informed him of the decision to resign.

Arumugam was an independent candidate in the last general election.

He emerged as candidate at the last minute when the returning officer rejected the nomination papers of Saiful Izham Ramli of PKR on technical grounds.

Arumugam won the Bukit Selambau seat by defeating Barisan Nasional/MIC candidate S Krishnan with a majority of 2,362 votes.

He then joined PKR and was appointed state exco in charge of domestic trade and consumer affairs, Siamese and Indian affairs, unity and plantation workers.