Bagan Pinang By-Election We’ll sack member if he contests on his own, says PKR

(NST) PORT DICKSON: Parti Keadilan Rakyat yesterday said it would sack party member Shahruddin Abdul Hamid should he contest as an independent for the Bagan Pinang seat.

PKR adviser, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Shahruddin, 55, was still a PKR member and that the party would expel him immediately if he filed his nomination papers on Oct 3.

Shahruddin, a former assistant to Teluk Kemang member of parliament Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas, had announced that he was offering himself as an independent to give voters a choice.

"There is no question about it. If he files his nomination, we will sack him," Anwar said at the party's Hari Raya open house here.

Kamarul, who is also state PKR chairman, said Shahruddin had told him of his intention to contest and was insistent despite being advised against it. "He is only wasting his time and money."

However, he said the party would not initiate any action until and unless he filed his nomination papers.

Shahruddin was a former Kota Lukut Umno branch permanent chairman before joining PKR in 2004 and being appointed a Teluk Kemang PKR committee member and assistant to Kamarul. He quit his posts early this year.

Shahruddin had said that he had made up his mind to contest and he would leave his fate to the party leaders.

"My decision to contest is to fulfil the needs of the people in Bagan Pinang.

"It is not for personal reasons. I am only doing this for the people who have requested for an alternative candidate for the by-election. They feel Barisan Nasional and Pas are weak."