PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is surprised by former Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) president Zaid Ibrahim's intention to contest the coming general election under the Pakatan Rakyat ticket, and possibly in Pekan.
Saifuddin is also puzzled by Zaid quitting his Kita president's post but remain a committee member of the two-year-old party which he established.
Zaid (left) did not relay his plan to contest under the Pakatan ticket, said Saifuddin, adding that the matter had not been raised at the Pakatan presidential council.
"I can confirm that the matter of Zaid contesting under the Pakatan Rakyat ticket has not been brought up or discussed by the presidential council.
"He has not written or indicated to us formally of his intention to contest under the Pakatan ticket," added Saifuddin, who is the MP for Machang.
Hence, he said, the issue of Zaid contesting under the Pakatan ticket does not arise unless there is a formal request by him and a decision made by the presidential council.
The presidential council is the highest decision-making body in the loose tripartite opposition coalition that comprises PAS, PKR and the DAP.
The Star reported yesterday that Zaid had quit as Kita president and expressed his interest in contesting the coming election under the Pakatan ticket, possibly in Pekan, which is alsobeing eyed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (right).
Also yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin welcomedthe growing number of rivals prepared to pit themselves against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his home turf of Pekan.
"For the prime minister, the more the merrier. This is the electoral process, so it is up to them," Muhyiddin said.
'Kita will not last long'
Saifuddin said PAS contested the Pekan seat in 1999 and lost by a narrow majority of about 200 votes.
Saifuddin is also puzzled by Zaid quitting his Kita president's post but remain a committee member of the two-year-old party which he established.
Zaid (left) did not relay his plan to contest under the Pakatan ticket, said Saifuddin, adding that the matter had not been raised at the Pakatan presidential council."I can confirm that the matter of Zaid contesting under the Pakatan Rakyat ticket has not been brought up or discussed by the presidential council.
"He has not written or indicated to us formally of his intention to contest under the Pakatan ticket," added Saifuddin, who is the MP for Machang.
Hence, he said, the issue of Zaid contesting under the Pakatan ticket does not arise unless there is a formal request by him and a decision made by the presidential council.
The presidential council is the highest decision-making body in the loose tripartite opposition coalition that comprises PAS, PKR and the DAP.
The Star reported yesterday that Zaid had quit as Kita president and expressed his interest in contesting the coming election under the Pakatan ticket, possibly in Pekan, which is alsobeing eyed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (right).Also yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin welcomedthe growing number of rivals prepared to pit themselves against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his home turf of Pekan.
"For the prime minister, the more the merrier. This is the electoral process, so it is up to them," Muhyiddin said.
'Kita will not last long'
Saifuddin said PAS contested the Pekan seat in 1999 and lost by a narrow majority of about 200 votes.
However, in 2004 and 2008, PKR fought Najib in the seat.
"If things remain at status quo, PKR will contest the Pekan seat again," he said.
Describing Zaid's actions to leave the Kita presidency as "unexpected", he said Kita may not survive as a political party.
"I do not think Kita will last long without Zaid as it lacks political idealism and does not possess an ideology. Zaid acted unilaterally in setting up Kita after he left PKR," Saifuddin (left) added.
Zaid is also quoted by The Star as saying that he decided to vacate his post of presidency on Saturday.
The former PKR cited health reasons for relinquishing the presidency and he was replaced by party secretary-general Masrum Dayat.
Zaid, a former minister, resigned his membership in PKR after a failed attempt to win the party's deputy president post, claiming a number of irregularities in the polls.
"If things remain at status quo, PKR will contest the Pekan seat again," he said.
Describing Zaid's actions to leave the Kita presidency as "unexpected", he said Kita may not survive as a political party."I do not think Kita will last long without Zaid as it lacks political idealism and does not possess an ideology. Zaid acted unilaterally in setting up Kita after he left PKR," Saifuddin (left) added.
Zaid is also quoted by The Star as saying that he decided to vacate his post of presidency on Saturday.
The former PKR cited health reasons for relinquishing the presidency and he was replaced by party secretary-general Masrum Dayat.
Zaid, a former minister, resigned his membership in PKR after a failed attempt to win the party's deputy president post, claiming a number of irregularities in the polls.
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