Ex-Keadilan sec-gen piqued over defection speculation
Former Keadilan secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir has threatened to sue those who speculate that he has intentions of joining Umno.
In a press statement today, Anuar said he is issuing a "stern warning to any individual or group making up speculation and cheap stories' about his so-called defection to the Umno camp.
He added since the announcement of the Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis, speculation had been rife that he had pledged his support for Umno's Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim.
"I will not dismiss so easily such cheap propaganda and political gimmicks that try to tarnish my reputation," he said, warning, "I will not hesitate to take legal action against those who wish to remain stubborn."
However, a Keadilan leader denied the rumours. Party Youth leader, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also Lunas state assemblyman, said he was 'amazed' to hear such speculations about Anuar.
"I have heard no one in Keadilan talking about it. We are busy with the Indera Kayangan by-election and have no time to speculate on such issues," Saifuddin told malaysiakini .
Intense lobbying
Anuar's political career in Keadilan seems to have taken a turn for the worse following news reports that he was one of the powers behind the pro-Abim (Malaysian Youth Muslim Organisation) group in Keadilan.
Hints of trouble surfaced when Anuar and several others openly challenged the ex-Umno faction led by now vice-president Azmin Ali at the party's first elections held in Kemaman, Terengganu, last November.
The attempt to wrest the reins of power in Keadilan by this pro-Abim group followed its two months of intense lobbying prior to the elections. Despite this, Anuar failed to secure one of the three vice-president's post.
He subsequently rejected an offer of a supreme council seat by president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Anuar's reputation was said to have suffered another blow when he was overlooked by Keadilan as a candidate for the Indera Kayangan by election although he is a native of Perlis.
Instead, the party has proposed a Chinese for the seat which fell vacant when Barisan Nasional- MCA incumbent, Khor Liang Tee, died on Dec 19.
The Indera Kayangan by election is scheduled for Jan 19, with the campaigning period beginning from Jan 10, which is nomination day.
'Do or die'
Meanwhile, observers note that BN appears to be courting several 'embittered' opposition leaders into its fold.
The People's Progressive Party, a BN coalition partner, seems to have cast its eyes on former Keadilan deputy Youth chief N Gobalakrishnan.
PPP president M Kayveas told malaysiakini yesterday that he is keeping 'the doors open' and would welcome Gobalakrishnan if he wanted to join the party.
In a press statement today, Anuar said he is issuing a "stern warning to any individual or group making up speculation and cheap stories' about his so-called defection to the Umno camp.
He added since the announcement of the Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis, speculation had been rife that he had pledged his support for Umno's Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim.
"I will not dismiss so easily such cheap propaganda and political gimmicks that try to tarnish my reputation," he said, warning, "I will not hesitate to take legal action against those who wish to remain stubborn."
However, a Keadilan leader denied the rumours. Party Youth leader, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also Lunas state assemblyman, said he was 'amazed' to hear such speculations about Anuar.
"I have heard no one in Keadilan talking about it. We are busy with the Indera Kayangan by-election and have no time to speculate on such issues," Saifuddin told malaysiakini.
Intense lobbying
Anuar's political career in Keadilan seems to have taken a turn for the worse following news reports that he was one of the powers behind the pro-Abim (Malaysian Youth Muslim Organisation) group in Keadilan.
Hints of trouble surfaced when Anuar and several others openly challenged the ex-Umno faction led by now vice-president Azmin Ali at the party's first elections held in Kemaman, Terengganu, last November.
The attempt to wrest the reins of power in Keadilan by this pro-Abim group followed its two months of intense lobbying prior to the elections. Despite this, Anuar failed to secure one of the three vice-president's post.
He subsequently rejected an offer of a supreme council seat by president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Anuar's reputation was said to have suffered another blow when he was overlooked by Keadilan as a candidate for the Indera Kayangan by election although he is a native of Perlis.
Instead, the party has proposed a Chinese for the seat which fell vacant when Barisan Nasional- MCA incumbent, Khor Liang Tee, died on Dec 19.
The Indera Kayangan by election is scheduled for Jan 19, with the campaigning period beginning from Jan 10, which is nomination day.
'Do or die'
Meanwhile, observers note that BN appears to be courting several 'embittered' opposition leaders into its fold.
The People's Progressive Party, a BN coalition partner, seems to have cast its eyes on former Keadilan deputy Youth chief N Gobalakrishnan.
PPP president M Kayveas told malaysiakini yesterday that he is keeping 'the doors open' and would welcome Gobalakrishnan if he wanted to join the party.
Gobalakrishnan, however, has denied wanting to join PPP and has also threatened to sue those who implied otherwise.
He has pledged his support for Keadilan and said he would 'do or die' with the party as it was the only multi-racial party in the country.
Gobalakrishnan, a Keadilan supreme council member, created a controversy when he aligned himself to the pro-Abim faction before the party's November elections.
He failed to obtain a vice-president's post during the elections but was later offered a supreme council member seat by Wan Azizah, which he accepted.
