'Quitters not even PKR members'

Penang PKR vice-chairperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim poured scorned on those who ‘quit the party’ recently, pointing out that the spokesperson for the group was not even a party member.

Abdul Malik (left) said he had verified with the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur that there was no record of Mohammed Ibrahim A Siahoo’s purported membership.

“The names of members will definitely be in the records if they had sent in application forms... it will be there even if they did not pay there membership fees,” he told reporters at Komtar today.

Abdul Malik then referred to a photograph of the members who supposedly quit PKR, which was published in Sinar Harian on Feb 26.

Most of those in the picture, he said, were members of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma), a group associated with BN, and that they were all related to Mohammed Ibrahim.

“BN and Umno (are resorting to) theatrics, using Kimma as a political tool for cheap publicity stunts during the Kerdau and Merlimau by-elections,” he said.

“I challenge them to prove that these people were indeed members of PKR... because I stand by (the fact) that (most) of them are not... perhaps only two or three (are members).”

Bernama had reported on Saturday that 97 ‘PKR members’ (some in picture on right) from Bayan Baru and Tanjong in Penang had left the party, expressing disappointment with the leadership.

Mohamed Ibrahim was quoted as saying the leadership had not kept its promise to serve the people, especially Indian Muslims.

They then submitted application forms to join Kimma, witnessed by chairperson of the Penang Umno liaison committee Zainal Abdidin Osman.

State PKR chief Mansor Othman, who was also present at the press conference, said Mohammed Ibrahim had been in contact with party leaders recently, including himself, to talk about his financial problems.

According to Mansor, Mohammed Ibrahim had complained that the party had not helped him with his personal problems.

“He dared to do this even though he is not a party member, because Pakatan Rakyat leaders are accessible to everyone. Our mobile and personal (telephone) numbers are everywhere, and we can be contacted day or night,” he added.

‘Direct threat to Umno’

Mansor said it had become a trend for people to "suddenly" decide on leaving a political party during by-elections.

“It’s a very normal thing for those saying they are hoing BN,” he said, adding that PKR has 28,000 registered numbers in Penang alone.

Mansor (right) went on to say the constant attacks on PKR were due to its strength and its ability to win many seats in the 2008 elections, especially in mixed areas that used to be BN strongholds.

“That’s why the criticism against us is massive (compared to other parties in Pakatan)... this is because we are a direct threat to Umno,” he said.

“Remember this party is also led by (former deputy prime minister) Anwar Ibrahim, who BN says must be ‘destroyed’ at all costs.”

BN component parties, including Umno, have problems too, but these are not highlighted in the press as much as those affecting PKR, Mansor noted.

This was understandable, he said, because a party as relatively young as PKR has managed to attract 400,000 members since its inception in 1999.

“This is really outstanding for a young party like us... if we are weak, we could not have obtained such a large number of seats in the last election.

“That’s why our stand is very clear. Those who want to leave, who want to threaten us or put their interests before that of the party, please leave.

"We realise that those who leave the party or jump ship are usually those with problems, big or small.”