PKR deputy secretary-general Bryan Ng has hit back at Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung over his recent remarks suggesting that his own constituency is no longer a safe seat.
Ng said the claim instead reflected Lee’s own alleged shortcomings and poor performance.
In a statement today, Ng (above) stressed that Petaling Jaya remains a stronghold for the party and urged Lee not to project his own deficiencies onto others.
“Petaling Jaya is an A-grade seat for PKR. If this seat is lost in the next general election, Lee should be the first to reflect and take full responsibility for his actions that led to this destructive outcome,” he said.
Ng, who is also the deputy chief of PKR’s Petaling Jaya division and a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor, listed several instances to support his claim that Lee is now seen as a “statement champion” who has allegedly failed to deliver solutions.
He cited issues ranging from recurring flash floods in the constituency to what he described as a lack of on-the-ground engagement.
According to Ng, despite having access to relevant ministries and technical agencies, Lee’s responses to flooding issues have been limited to issuing press statements requesting reports and reviews, while shifting responsibility to the MBPJ and the Selangor government without offering constructive solutions.
“Lee should be on the ground, assessing the situation and using existing authority and influence to push for pragmatic solutions, not just issuing rhetorical statements,” he said.
In a recent interview with Malaysiakini’s Chinese-language podcast, Lee said that despite being a highly urbanised constituency in Selangor, Petaling Jaya can no longer be regarded as a safe seat for PKR.
The lawmaker said under the current circumstances, it would not be appropriate to categorise the seat as such, even if voters in the area remain deeply committed to reform.
Lee also cited controversies involving the MACC and its outgoing chief commissioner, Azam Baki, including recent investigations of former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli and his former aide James Chai.
Missing leadership meetings
Ng also accused Lee of frequently missing central leadership council meetings where internal and public policy matters are discussed.
He claimed that Lee, instead of using official party channels to raise issues constructively, had opted to air his criticisms publicly, creating the impression that the party leadership was averse to feedback.
On grassroots engagement, Ng claimed that Lee’s relationship with party members had weakened, pointing to his absence from the Petaling Jaya PKR divisional annual general meeting.
Ng revealed that a motion was also raised during the meeting, opposing Lee’s renomination in the upcoming election.
“His defeat in the Petaling Jaya divisional election is clear evidence that party members themselves have lost confidence in his leadership style, which is seen as detached from the grassroots,” Ng added.
Lack of presence
Ng questioned Lee’s alleged lack of visibility during Ramadan, claiming he had been absent from community programmes and traditional outreach events.
Further, he criticised Lee’s handling of local issues such as Tasik Taman Jaya, stating that Lee's actions were limited to “reporting” rather than delivering solutions.
“He must stop engaging in rhetorical politics and start functioning as a responsible government representative.
“Petaling Jaya needs a representative who delivers solutions, not just a champion of media statements,” Ng reiterated.
Malaysiakini has contacted Lee for comments and is awaiting a reply.
On May 5, Malaysiakini published an exclusive report on PKR’s internal strategic analysis, which identified 66 parliamentary seats the party plans to contest in the upcoming election.
Of the number, only seven parliamentary seats were classified as "Tier 1" safe seats. There were 13 categorised as "Tier 2A" (leaning strong), 17 "Tier 2B" (marginal/competitive), and 29 "Tier 3" (difficult/recovery).
Petaling Jaya was categorised as “Tier 1”, while Tambun, held by Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, was categorised among the "Tier 2B". - Mkini
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