Kamarul Baharin denies talk of leaving PKR

(New Straits Times) – Teluk Kemang Member of Parliament, Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas has denied rumours that he would be following in the footsteps of Padang Serai MP, N. Gobalakrishnan and leave Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the near future.

Kamarul, the sole PKR MP in Negri Sembilan, said rumours on his future in PKR as highlighted in a blogsite (http://theunspinners.blogspot.com) were baseless.

“I have no intention of leaving the party or to resign from any of my party positions.

“I also have no idea where the writer of the blog received information that I was planning to leave,” said the state PKR chairman.

Gobalakrishnan quit PKR on Saturday claiming that its de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was no longer in control of the party which was now in the hands of its deputy president, Mohamad Azmin Ali.

Another state PKR leader, Port Dickson state assemblyman, M. Ravi who recently defeated Kamarul for the Teluk Kemang division chairman post, described Gobalakrishnan’s resignation as “a real blow to the party, especially the Indian members.”

“I used to boast at all my ceramahs that the Indians in PKR were solidly behind the party and would never throw in the towel.

“Gobalakrishnan’s resignation is now an embarassment to me and I believe it will jeopardise the trust of the Indians in PKR,” he said.

He said Gobalakrishnan had made a hasty and rash decision and should have taken time to discuss matters with the leadership.

On rumours that Kamarul will follow suit, Ravi said he had heard no such thing.

“There were problems after the recent PKR polls with several branches in the state calling for a new (state) leadership.

“However, since Kamarul was named the state chairman, we accept it,” he added.