PKR sacks 29 members for various disciplinary issues
(NST) – Parti Keadilan Rakyat has released a list of 29 members who have been sacked for various disciplinary issues including contesting as candidates of other parties during the last Sarawak state elections, posting negative comments about party leadership on Facebook and taking part in activities organised by opposing parties.
Its disciplinary bureau chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who released the list, told reporters that the image of the party in the past one year has been affected due to MPs who left to become independent.
Tan also released a list of 10 suspended members and 12 members who received warning letters.
The lists, he said, included two groups of people who were marked for disciplinary action after party elections last October and after the Sarawak polls in April.
“This is a serious situation especially when we are facing the 13th general elections. It is also the season for choosing candidates so I hope all party members follow our constitution. If you are not satisfied, please use channels available in the party (to present grouses) instead of going to the media,” he told reporters at the PKR headquarters here.
One of them he said, Thony Badak of Miri, had contested in the Sarawak polls on SNAP ticket while Joyce Lee of Batu Kawan, Penang, was kicked out for making unsavoury comments about PKR on her Facebook page.
“She said Facebook was a private (channel for) conversation. But as far as we are concerned Facebook is not private because many people have access to it.”
“Jonson Chong of Kelana Jaya, he said, was sacked for helping another party campaign in Sarawak in full force,” he added
The same fate, he said, awaited anyone who had similar disciplinary issues during the next general elections.
“We have collaborating evidence from newspapers and YouTube. We sent show cause letters through registered post, emails and SMSes. We will wait 10 working days for them to explain. Sometimes, we have a hearing to give them a chance to explain,” he said.
Those in the sack list however, will be given two chances to appeal, he said.
Wanita PKR chief and Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin said this was the first time PKR released such lists.
“These people still do not appreciate our gesture (not to name them). They continue to accuse us and make all kinds of claims. We want the public to know that they are no longer with the party and they should not be making statements on behalf of the party.
