Johor PKR pacifies chief
State leaders say party will contest Segamat, Johor Jaya seats
(NST) – JOHOR BARU : IN what is seen as an attempt to pacify their sulking chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng, Johor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yesterday announced it would contest both the Segamat parliamentary seat and Johor Jaya state seat.
It is learnt that the announcement was made without the approval of the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council.
It was also made in the absence of Chua, who has gone missing after opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently declared that DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang would contest the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat which Chua had been eyeing.
Johor PKR deputy chairman Dr Ahmad Faidhi Saidi said yesterday the Johor PKR liaison committee, which he chaired, made the decision after a meeting at the Air Hitam branch on Friday.
The meeting was attended by about 90 per cent of the committee members.
Asked about Chua’s whereabouts, Dr Ahmad said he was taking a rest and the party was still in contact with him.
“We also agreed during the meeting that Chua’s case be referred to the PKR supreme council.
“However, we would like to stress that Chua is still our Johor chairman and the PKR national vice-chairman.
“During his absence, I am assuming his role in coordinating party work.
“We have also proposed that PKR deputy chairman Azmin Ali lead the party’s election machinery in Johor.”
Immediately after Dr Ahmad’s announcement, Johor PKR vice-chairman Hassan Abdul Karim reaffirmed that Johor PKR was firm about contesting the Segamat and Johor Jaya seats after a Grade A seat like Gelang Patah was given to the DAP.
“The committee has decided that the Segamat parliamentary seat, the Johor Jaya and Tangkak state seats are ours.
“Segamat is a Grade B seat. Exchanging our Grade A seat with DAP’s Grade B seat is already a good offer for DAP.
“We hope Johor DAP will reciprocate by giving us the Johor Jaya seat.
“I hereby announce that PKR Johor Jaya branch chairman Jimmy Puah will contest the Johor Jaya seat. I am taking full responsibility for this announcement.
“We will not let any PKR seat be arbitrarily taken away without a valid reason. We have served the people in Johor Jaya and have strong grassroots support.”
DAP contested the Segamat seat while the former Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) contested the Johor Jaya seat in 2008.
Following the merger of PRM with PKR in 2003, the understanding was that all previous seats contested by PRM would now be contested by PKR, which explains why PKR is persistent in contesting in Johor Jaya.
Hassan was a former PRM president who quit the party to join PKR.
Anwar is expected to be in Johor Baru on Tuesday to discuss matters related to Johor PKR.
Meanwhile, Lim announced on Friday that Johor DAP Pengkalan Rinting division election committee coordinator, Yeo Tung Seong, would contest the Pengkalan Rinting state seat.
