It Is True, I Will Be Quitting The Party, Says Zaid

from Welcome to Malaysia-Instinct.com by zul@email.com (zul)

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has put a stop to speculation on his decision to quit PKR by posting on his blog: “Yes, I am quitting.”

The confirmation followed media frenzy that had arisen over a report in The Star on Monday, quoting him as saying he was quitting the party.

“It is true, I will be quitting the party. But I have yet to submit my formal resignation letter,” he said in a brief e-mailed statement.

Apparently, certain quarters in PKR were attempting to persuade Zaid not to quit the party although some were “beaming with joy”.

Zaid had earlier expressed frustration with party leaders who opted to attack him instead of looking into complaints of irregularities during party elections.

He had also caused a stir when he dared party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his “preferred” deputy president candidate Azmin Ali to leave PKR, saying they were posing a hindrance to the reform agenda.

Meanwhile PKR has accused Zaid Ibrahim as being the man behind a new political organisation.

In a no-holds barred press conference, PKR secretary-general Saifu-ddin Nasution claimed that Zaid was controlling a registered political party through “proxies”.

“There is already a political party in the country, which elected a new leadership a few months ago.

“Zaid has placed a few people – his close friends – in the party,” Saifuddin told reporters at the PKR headquarters after announcing the results of party elections over the weekend.

Saifuddin, who is also Machang MP, said, even before Zaid joined the contest for the position of PKR deputy president, he had made efforts to place his men in the new party.

“That was the preparation that he had made early on. For now, I will not announce the name of that party,” said Saifuddin.

Asked on his thoughts of such a new party, he said anyone could set up a party in a free and democratic country and that it would make the political scene “merrier”.

Zaid, who joined PKR in June 2009 after a fallout with Umno, had been quoted as stating that in Sungai Petani recently that he was planning to form a new party – “Keadilan Baru”. He has since said that he made the statement in jest.

The former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department announced on Sunday that he had decided to quit PKR, saying he wanted to “dissociate himself from liars and cheats.”

Saifuddin also hit out at Zaid for being inconsistent.

“The latest is him saying – ‘I will continue to fight with PKR. My spirit is that of an Opposition fighter’.

“However, the following week, he is wondering why PKR had not sacked him.’He added that although the party had yet to receive Zaid’s resignation letter, he would respect his decision “whatever it may be”.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who was said to be aligned to Zaid in the central leadership elections, described the politician’s decision to quit as “his democratic right.”

Meanwhile PAS vice-president, Datuk Husam Musa said PAS will always open its doors to former members of other political parties, including Zaid Ibrahim.

Husam said PAS had previously offered Zaid a place in the party but he had preferred to be with PKR.

“He (Zaid) is in a position to join any party. We did invite him to join PAS before but he declined, so it’s up to him now to join whichever party,” Husam said.

On PAS’ defeat in the recent Galas state by-election on Nov 4, Husam said although the party accepted the result graciously, it would now pay more attention to Barisan Nasional.

“Barisan seemed very happy with the victory. What is more important is how Barisan draws up its strategy for the next general election. That is what PAS is more concerned about,” said Husam, who is also the Kelantan executive councillor for Economic Planning, Finance and Welfare.

In the by-election, PAS candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamad lost to Barisan’s Abdul Aziz Yusoff by 1,190 votes.

Husam said, to prepare for the next general election, PAS would step up efforts to get more people, especially the youth, to register as voters and strengthen its cooperation with other Pakatan Rakyat members.

“We have other strategies which we will discuss later to ensure Pakatan does even better in the next general election.”