Mohammad Fairus Quits Penanti Seat

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) — Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has resigned as the Penanti assemblyman, effective, Thursday.

In a four-paragraph statement e-mailed to Bernama, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblyman said he made the decision to concentrate on his post-graduate study and to spend time with his family.

"This will also allows me some room to concentrate on clearing my name from all the allegations hurled against me," said Mohammad Fairus, who is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Mohammad Fairus, 32, had also resigned as the Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and as the executive councillor for entrepreneur and cooperatives, information and community relations, effective April 8.

He said he decided to quit the seat after taking into consideration all factors, including the interest of the PKR.

He thanked the Penanti voters who elected him in the March 8 general election last year and said that his decision was for the good of all.

PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is yet to name Mohammad Fairus' successor as the Deputy Chief Minister I.

In Penang, state PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said he was told that Mohammad Fairus had submitted his resignation letter to the State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Abdul Halim Hussain, today.

He told Bernama when contacted that the state PKR was only informed about the matter.

All discussions pertaining to the resignation was between Anwar and Mohammad Fairus, he added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Halim said he received Mohammad Fairus' resignation letter today. He declined to elaborate.

State Election Commission (EC) deputy director Mohd Faiz Syazwan Zainal Abidin told Bernama that until this evening, the EC had yet to be informed of the resignation.

— BERNAMA