Ex-assemblyman denies political persecution

Former Kajang state assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh had denied speculations that political persecutions or political deals were involved in PKR’s Kajang move.

Instead, the Selangor PKR vice-secretary, who resigned to pave way for party de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election, stressed that he had decided to resign voluntarily.

Stating that he had no regrets for his decision, Lee said he was chosen among a few elected representatives who were willing to vacant their seats for Anwar.

Lee added that he felt fortunate to be the chosen as the one who was going to send Anwar to the Selangor state assembly.

He said since his resignation on Jan 27, rumours were rife that he was either politically persecuted or squared to resign, forcing him to make clarifications on the speculations.

“Indeed, we had planned it for some time, albeit the people seeing it as a sudden move,” he told China Press during an exclusive interview.

He further revealed that he proposed the idea of bringing Anwar to Selangor and making him the state PKR leader three months before he tendered his resignation.

However, he was not given a clear answer then.

Lee said although the state PKR accepted his idea but no pragmatic action was taken until three weeks before his resignation, where a bilateral discussion was held.

“The party leader (Anwar) told me a few elected representatives had proposed the same (vacant their seats for Anwar) and (he) asked me if I was also prepared for it.

“I immediately responded that I was willing to cooperate,” he said.

He explained that he did not hold such an idea during last year’s general election since he was confident that Pakatan Rakyat could wrest control of Putrajaya then.

“However, the result was out of our expectation. Later I ponder, there’s still room for improvement for Selangor,” he added.

Therefore, he expressed his hope for Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to quit willingly and pass the baton to Anwar after he wins the by-election.

While lauding Abdul Khalid’s clean leadership, Lee opined that his administration must speed up its efforts in dealing with issues affecting the people’s livelihood.

For instance, he said, the running of Kajang Municipal Council had been affected and the council had ceased from holding meetings for four months since a vote-of-no-confidence was passed against the president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abd Rahman.

He was of the view that the state government should not overlook other matters while pursuing its clean agenda, adding that, in order to take care of both, the state needed a stronger leader.

In his view, Anwar needs a platform to showcase its leadership.

If the Opposition Leader could turn Selangor into a model state, he would be able to get prepared for the next battle of wresting the federal leadership with his political achievements, he said.