PM's anti-graft agenda won Ezam over

The government's post-March 8 anti-corruption agenda was the main attraction for former PKR leader Ezam Mohd Nor to rejoin the party that once expelled him for being overly critical.

The former PKR Youth chief reiterated at a press conference held at Shah Village Hotel in Petaling Jaya today that he did not rejoin Umno because he was offered any position as speculated.

He characterised his new role as being a regular member with a strong principle of ‘statesmanship’ who wants to contribute to his country. According to him Abdullah had already given him the mandate to pursue his reform agenda as long as it benefitted the country.

"When Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) will go through thorough reform, I sense that he is committed in changing things," explained Ezam, who was former head of Gerak, an anti-graft watchdog.

He added that only through rejoining Umno and BN can he pursue his struggle to eradicate corruption and said that he saw ‘no other formula that can realise this quest’.

In response to a question on BN’s lack of serious commitment to reform in the past, he replied, “Tell me who in the past government has made such kind of policies? Only this administration has done so and I am convinced that the government will implement the reform promises they have made.”

Curiously he has relinquished the chair of Gerak which he set up to combat graft to retain its non-partisanship, while maintaining joining Umno is a continuation of his anti-graft efforts.

Ezam: Review ISA

Asked on the Internal Security Act (ISA), Official Secrets Act (OSA) and the Dangerous Drug Act, Ezam assured that his views remain the same and the ISA should be reviewed along with any law that detained people without trial.

Ezam surprising took the opportunity to present an opinion on the concept of Ketuanan Melayu.

“Other races respect the rights of Malay Muslims as the leaders of this country and we in turn must respect them. The Malay foundation must be maintained but the term of Ketuanan Melayu must be replaced,” he explained.

His parting shot to PKR was that the party had deviated from its original spirit of fighting for justice.

“PKR now is a party that fights for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Justice Party) and not keadilan (justice) anymore. I am not the only one who believes that PKR is an unjust party but other former and even current PKR members as well,” he said.

Sitting next to Ezam was former PKR vice-president S Nallakaruppan (right) who then formed his own party, the Malaysian Indian United Party.

Joining him will be seven other former PKR youth chiefs.

They are Annuar Shaari (former PKR division chief for Permatang Pauh and private secretary to party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim), SD Johari Mohd Yasin (former Selangor PKR Youth chief), Mohd Nazmi Rosli (former Selangor PKR Youth secretary), Ahmad Daud Che Ghani (former PKR Perlis Youth chief), Azwan Din Hamzah (former PKR Youth executive council member), Khairul Annuar Ramli (former PKR Kedah Youth chief) and Abdul Ghani Haron (former PKR Youth executive councillor member).

Ezam rejoined Umno yesterday after submitting his membership form to Abdullah.

Lifetime members

Meanwhile former PKR members Anuar and Khairul today submitted their lifetime membership forms to join Umno today.

Anwar's ex-political secretary Anuar and former PKR Youth exco member Khairul gave their forms to Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak in Parliament.

During the brief press conference, Najib said he met Anuar "a long time ago" and it was just a coincidence that he turned up today after Ezam joined the party yesterday.

Asked to comment on the phenomenon of having more politicians joining Umno, Najib said: "The people can make their own interpretations and draw their own conclusions about this."

During the press conference, both revealed that they were joining Umno out of free will and had left PKR last year after losing faith in Anwar's leadership.

Anuar expressed that he wanted to go back to the roots of the struggle for race and religion though Umno.

As for Khairul, who ran as an independent in the Kulim state seat during the March 8 general election, he said he left PKR because "Anwar was making different statements to PAS and DAP".

He enthused that Umno would serve as a better platform for him compared to PKR.

Ezam and Nalla were also present when the duo presented their forms to Najib, who remarked that Nalla was a firm supporter of Barisan Nasisonal even though his party was not a member of the coalition.

Watch the 10-min video of Ezam's press conference in Malaysiakini.tv.