Five more MPs to quit PKR?
By G. Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider
Five more Members of Parliament (MP) from PKR are said to be quitting this coming week, testing the leadership of party de factor leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who faces a career-ending sodomy trial.
It is understood that the five will announce that they are turning independent to protest the PKR leadership, citing similar reasons that led Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim to be the first PKR MP to walk out last Friday since Election 2008.
A few PKR assemblymen are also said to be joining the MPs, who could help the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) reach the key two-thirds parliamentary majority of 148 seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat to allow them to pass laws without opposition support.
“From current information, there are four or five MPs who want to leave PKR. They will state their stand after the Chinese New Year celebrations… wait for the second press conference next week,” a PKR source told The Malaysian Insider.
The Chinese Lunar New Year has two public holidays, today and Feb 15.
“The MPs are from several states including Penang,” the source said, adding the MPs concerned do not hold ranking positions within PKR at either the state or national levels.
The source explained the lawmakers have decided to turn independent because they were dissatisfied with the party leadership and its current struggle.
