PKR sec-gen Salehuddin quits post

 

(The Star) – PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim has quit his post to return to the corporate world.

Salehuddin, who had stirred a hornet’s nest when he strongly opposed the Selangor government’s move to buy over the debts of developer Talam Corp Bhd, tendered his resignation letter to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Salehuddin, 58, expressed his intention to quit several times since October last year. He changed his mind following an intervention by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

But this time, Salehuddin said he had made up his mind.

“I have quit,” he said, adding that he wanted to resume his oil and gas consultancy business.

Speculation over Salehuddin’s resignation started when he sent a strongly worded letter of resignation on Oct 26, but he retracted the letter after Anwar convinced him to stay.

In November last year, Salehuddin sent strongly worded e-mail to his comrades in the political bureau, slamming the Selangor government’s controversial RM391mil Talam debt buyover.

He had described the debt buyover as an “old trick used by crooks in the corporate sector.”

He called on bureau members to seek an answer from Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim over the controversial buyover, but the bureau decided that there were no elements of fraud in the buyover scheme.

Salehuddin, who is said to be more of a corporate figure than a politician, is known for speaking his mind.

He was appointed PKR secretary-general in April last year, and made it clear to the party that he had no qualms in quitting the post if the situation warranted it.