Saifuddin: Zaid has already put his men in new political party

PETALING JAYA - Parti Keadilan Rakyat secretary general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he respects the decision of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the former Federal Territory PKR chairman, to quit the party.

Although PKR would be losing a fighter for reforms, his departure would not have a negative impact on the party, Saifuddin added.

"I wish him luck (although) I have yet to receive a letter of resignation from him," he told reporters at the PKR headquarters here.

Asked to comment on the possibility of Zaid setting up a new party, he said that such a development would be good for national politics.

"But I understand that a new political party has been set up and elections for party posts have already been held. I do not want to reveal what party that is but I have learned that Zaid have put his men in the party," he added.

Writing in his blog today, Zaid confirmed that he would leave PKR but had not tendered his resignation.

Zaid had pulled out of the race for the deputy presidency of PKR alleging fraud and had since been especially critical of party advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The central leadership council elections will end on Nov 21.

In the contest for the number two spot, vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali leads with 14,751 votes. His challenger, vice-president and Perak PKR chairman Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, trails with 3,401 votes.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, daughter of Anwar and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is ahead in the vice-presidential race with 1,042 votes, followed by director of strategy Tian Chua (9,524), election director Fuziah Salleh (7,878) and party chairman for Penang Mansor Othman (7,448).