New political alliance declares itself in Parliament
(The Malay Mail) KUALA LUMPUR: There’s a new political alliance in the country. In an unprecedented move, five independent Members of Parliament announced in Parliament today the formation of “Konsensus Bebas” as the new official platform for united independent MPs.
The five MPs, formerly of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) — Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim (Bayan Baru), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai), Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim- Bandar Baru) and Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju) — have vowed to play an effective role as MPs through the new alliance.
“We believe the formation of Konsensus Bebas is the best solution for us as MPs to present issues of national and public interest. We want to offer an effective voice for the rakyat in Parliament through Konsensus Bebas,” Wee said.
He said they would support the government and opposition conditionally during their course of work.
Wee said political parties have failed the rakyat and in reformation as manifested by the 2008 General Elections. Konsensus Bebas will strive to restore the rakyat’s hope and conviction for reformation.
Wee described the political landscape in the country as changed and is matured enough to accept a new dimension in the democratic process.
“We intend to present ideas and policies for the rakyat based on the true spirit of reformation. Political parties always work based on party agenda and inter-party conflicts for power and position, aggravating the ‘brown-nursing culture’.
“Konsensus Bebas is all about the rakyat. We are working for them and the country,” said Wee, adding that Konsesus Bebas will act without any political self-interest but solely for the interests of the rakyat and nation.
WHO ARE THE MPs?
• Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri, Bagan Serai MP, 65
Mohsin is currently the MP for the Bagan Serai constituency in Perak. He was elected to Parliament in 2008. Mohsin, representing PKR, beat former Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin by 3,413 votes.
Mohsin was appointed on the ticket of PKR but quit the party in March this year to sit as an independent, saying he felt “betrayed and sabotaged”. His resignation from PKR followed the resignations of fellow PKR MPs Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Tan Tee Beng.
Date left PKR: March 3, 2010
• Tan Tee Beng, Nibong Tebal MP, 38
Tan Tee Beng is a Malaysian politician and is currently the MP for the Nibong Tebal constituency in Penang. He holds the seat as an independent. Tee Beng was elected to Parliament in 2008 for the PKR party, unseating Zainal Abidin Osman, a government minister.
Three months ago, Tee Beng announced he was leaving PKR to sit as an independent MP.
His resignation from PKR followed the instigation of disciplinary action against him by the party after he criticised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Tee Beng’s father, Datuk Tan Gim Hwa, was a founding member of the Gerakan party (part of the Barisan Nasional coalition), and Tee Beng himself is a former official in Gerakan’s youth wing.
Before entering politics, Tee Beng was a stockbroker and lawyer. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Middlesex University, England.
Date left PKR: March 1, 2010
• Wee Choo Keong, Wangsa Maju MP, 57
Wee Choo Keong was elected MP for Wangsa Maju in 2008. Before the election that year, while still a member of the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP), he was invited to join PKR and contest the Wangsa Maju constituency which he later won with a slim majority of 150 votes.
In May this year, Wee left PKR to sit in Parliament as an independent, citing disappointment with the PKR-led Selangor State government’s handling of the Dengkil sand-mining scandal which he described as “little Napoleons and trendy leftists” taking control of the party. His active political career spans over 20 years, 16 of which was spent in Bukit Bintang and four in Klang. He was a two-term MP for Bukit Bintang until he was disqualified by the Election Judge, Tun Ahmad Fairuz (who was implicated in the VK Lingam video clip scandal), on Aug 2, 1995.
Date left PKR: May 14, 2010
• Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, Bayan Baru MP, 55
Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim was elected to Parliament in 2008 and has since held the independent seat for the Bayan Baru constituency in Penang.
Representing PKR, Zahrain beat MCA’s Ooi Siew Kim by a staggering 11,029 votes.
As chairman of Keadilan’s Penang division, Zahrain has been criticised by his Pakatan Rakyat coalition partner, the Democratic Action Party, for speaking out against Lim Guan Eng.
In January this year, he called Lim a “dictator, chauvinist and communist-minded”, citing what Zahrain saw as a failure by Lim to deliver on his election promises. Upon his resignation, Zahrain was quoted saying: “There must be a balance between the people’s interests and my interests”. Zahrain is also President of the Football Association of Penang.
Date left PKR: Feb 12, 2010
• Zulkifli Noordin, Kulim-Bandar Baru MP, 42
Zulkifli Noordin is currently the MP for Kulim-Bandar Baru, Kedah, and also a lawyer, Syarie lawyer and solicitor. He joined PKR in 2008. The PKR advisory board had sacked Zulkifli for not accepting multiracial cultures. His incendiary comments include saying there was an existence of “firaun kecil” (small pharoahs) in PKR and “badut hingusan” in Pas.
Date left PKR: March 6, 2010
-The Malay Mail-
