150 commemorate Bayan Baru MP's PKR departure
Susan LoonePublished: Feb 20, 2011 7:14 PM | Updated: Feb 20, 2011 7:42 PM
Quite unknown to many, Bayan Baru voters had given their MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim a cold shoulder following his departure from PKR last year.
Quite unknown to many, Bayan Baru voters had given their MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim a cold shoulder following his departure from PKR last year.
But today, about 150 mostly Malay Muslim residents hailed him as “defender of the race”, and threw him a party in his honour complete with cake cutting, food and a Boria performance.
Banners with slogans like ‘A year has gone...the return of the defender of the race to the nation’ were spotted around the function hall.
During his speech, Zahrain (photo, far right) explained to the Bukit Gedung residents for the first time, why he left PKR in such a dramatic fashion.
He assured the crowd that leaving the party and declaring himself an independent does not mean he has abandoned his struggle for justice, nor has he forgotten his responsibilities and promises to the people.
He acknowledged that when he departed, several quarters were so angry with him that they had refused to invite him for events within his constituency.
“I suffered alone for almost a year ...I even had to shut down my Facebook and interactive websites as too many people were hurling criticisms at me, and calling me names,” he lamented.
“But things are better now...when those who criticise me the most have also left the party,” he added, further saying that many more are expected to leave PKR.
Zahrain still sore
Last January, Zahrain ahd mounted several attacks against Penang CM Lim Guan Eng for being a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”.
Zahrain had consistently accused Lim (right) of having failed to deliver on his election promises.
He subsequently left PKR after the party’s leadership referred him to the disciplinary board for challenging Lim publicly.
The Bayan Baru MP subsequently set up the Independent Consensus (Konsensus Bebas) with other defecting MPs Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim - Bandar Bharu).
They had all left PKR citing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership, except for Zulkifli, who had been sacked.
Zahrain today continues to show open disgust for the DAP and its national secretary general Lim Guan Eng.
At the event he complained that he had been cheated by Pakatan Rakyat, who gave prominence to DAP in Penang after the coalition took over state power in the 2008 general election.
“Don’t cheat the people, this is not your father’s state,” Zahrain said he had told Lim.
The Bayan Baru MP complained that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had merely told him to “relax” when he had complained about DAP’s dominance in Penang.
Anwar had instead asked him to “think about the bigger agenda - seizing Putrajaya”.
“Anwar seems to approve of Lim’s behaviour, which includes marginalising the Malays,” said Zahrain.
'Anwar promised we could be ministers'
Zahrain, however, insisted he was not a racist and that he would defend any community that was “oppressed”.
He claimed that in Penang the Malays were the victims of oppression.
Moving his target to Anwar, he told the constituents how he felt cheated for trusting Pakatan and Anwar’s claim that he would assume prime ministership on Sep 16, 2008.
“He told us we could be ministers, we were of course happy to hear that and spread the word around,” he said.
“But Sept 16 was a lie...so where do I put my face? If indeed, Anwar became PM, we would be dead,” he quipped.
The independent MP however tried to appear truly unbiased by following with a jibe at Umno for it’s less than glowing reputation.
He said the people had lost their faith in the Malay party, and that it was up to the party to understand the current political scenario and pursue the necessary reforms.
“Umno must understand, things are different now...don’t just think of contracts, try to defend the Malays properly,” he said.
No one spared except PM
PAS was not spared Zahrain’s tirade, claiming that as a party for the Malays they were not visible in Penang.
“It was supposed to be a sharing of power (between the three parties in Pakatan) but I do not see the party doing anything,” he charged.
The first-time MP then declared his support for Prime Minister Najib Razak saying the man was “sensitive and concerned” about the people.
Zahrain showered appreciation on the premier for his “desire and effort” to transform the country into a high income society, for his “commitment” to fighting corruption, and for the opportunity for outsiders to join the BN.
On his future plans, and whether he would join the BN as a candidate in the next general election, Zahrain denied that the upcoming polls was on his mind.
He said his priority would be meeting his constituents, something he said he had avoided the past year for fear of being called a “traitor” for his defection.
“But I was patient; I did not do any wrong...I left the party when I realised what was going on inside it”.
On Penang MCA’s expressed desire to contest in Bayan Baru in the coming polls, Zahrain welcomed anyone who wished to make a bid for the popular seat as “it is a free country”.
While on his relationship with another recent former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim, who has established his own party Kita (People Welfare Party), Zahrain said he was willing to work with anyone for the right cause.
But today, about 150 mostly Malay Muslim residents hailed him as “defender of the race”, and threw him a party in his honour complete with cake cutting, food and a Boria performance.
Banners with slogans like ‘A year has gone...the return of the defender of the race to the nation’ were spotted around the function hall.During his speech, Zahrain (photo, far right) explained to the Bukit Gedung residents for the first time, why he left PKR in such a dramatic fashion.
He assured the crowd that leaving the party and declaring himself an independent does not mean he has abandoned his struggle for justice, nor has he forgotten his responsibilities and promises to the people.
He acknowledged that when he departed, several quarters were so angry with him that they had refused to invite him for events within his constituency.
“I suffered alone for almost a year ...I even had to shut down my Facebook and interactive websites as too many people were hurling criticisms at me, and calling me names,” he lamented.
“But things are better now...when those who criticise me the most have also left the party,” he added, further saying that many more are expected to leave PKR.
Zahrain still sore
Last January, Zahrain ahd mounted several attacks against Penang CM Lim Guan Eng for being a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”.
Zahrain had consistently accused Lim (right) of having failed to deliver on his election promises.He subsequently left PKR after the party’s leadership referred him to the disciplinary board for challenging Lim publicly.
The Bayan Baru MP subsequently set up the Independent Consensus (Konsensus Bebas) with other defecting MPs Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim - Bandar Bharu).
They had all left PKR citing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership, except for Zulkifli, who had been sacked.
Zahrain today continues to show open disgust for the DAP and its national secretary general Lim Guan Eng.
At the event he complained that he had been cheated by Pakatan Rakyat, who gave prominence to DAP in Penang after the coalition took over state power in the 2008 general election.
“Don’t cheat the people, this is not your father’s state,” Zahrain said he had told Lim.
The Bayan Baru MP complained that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had merely told him to “relax” when he had complained about DAP’s dominance in Penang.
Anwar had instead asked him to “think about the bigger agenda - seizing Putrajaya”.
“Anwar seems to approve of Lim’s behaviour, which includes marginalising the Malays,” said Zahrain.
'Anwar promised we could be ministers'
Zahrain, however, insisted he was not a racist and that he would defend any community that was “oppressed”.
He claimed that in Penang the Malays were the victims of oppression.
Moving his target to Anwar, he told the constituents how he felt cheated for trusting Pakatan and Anwar’s claim that he would assume prime ministership on Sep 16, 2008.“He told us we could be ministers, we were of course happy to hear that and spread the word around,” he said.
“But Sept 16 was a lie...so where do I put my face? If indeed, Anwar became PM, we would be dead,” he quipped.
The independent MP however tried to appear truly unbiased by following with a jibe at Umno for it’s less than glowing reputation.
He said the people had lost their faith in the Malay party, and that it was up to the party to understand the current political scenario and pursue the necessary reforms.
“Umno must understand, things are different now...don’t just think of contracts, try to defend the Malays properly,” he said.
No one spared except PM
PAS was not spared Zahrain’s tirade, claiming that as a party for the Malays they were not visible in Penang.
“It was supposed to be a sharing of power (between the three parties in Pakatan) but I do not see the party doing anything,” he charged.
The first-time MP then declared his support for Prime Minister Najib Razak saying the man was “sensitive and concerned” about the people.
Zahrain showered appreciation on the premier for his “desire and effort” to transform the country into a high income society, for his “commitment” to fighting corruption, and for the opportunity for outsiders to join the BN.
On his future plans, and whether he would join the BN as a candidate in the next general election, Zahrain denied that the upcoming polls was on his mind.
He said his priority would be meeting his constituents, something he said he had avoided the past year for fear of being called a “traitor” for his defection.
“But I was patient; I did not do any wrong...I left the party when I realised what was going on inside it”.
On Penang MCA’s expressed desire to contest in Bayan Baru in the coming polls, Zahrain welcomed anyone who wished to make a bid for the popular seat as “it is a free country”.
While on his relationship with another recent former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim, who has established his own party Kita (People Welfare Party), Zahrain said he was willing to work with anyone for the right cause.
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