Unhappiness over new Malacca PKR chief sees 18 quit party

A total of 18 PKR members have quit the party over unhappiness at the party's new Malacca chief Halim Bachik who was appointed in December last year.

Khairuddin Ibrahim, who was the Masjid Tanah PKR vice chief, confirmed that he and 17 other PKR members from his division had quit the party.

"We quit because we are unhappy with the state chief Halim Bachik who leads like BN," he said.

Khairuddin said the resignations were tendered in May but claimed the state leadership delayed processing them.

He claimed that Halim had sidelined senior members of the party.

"I have been the vice chief for three terms and have recruited many members to PKR but we are sidelined," he said.

Khairuddin claimed that many senior members were not given any position but certain people, who are linked to Halim, was appointed to hold up to seven positions.

He added that the members who quit are not crazy for positions but feel unappreciated.

However, Khairuddin said those who quit won't join BN.

When contacted, Halim, who is also the Masjid Tanah PKR chief, denied appointing the same people to multiple positions.

"I deny appointing one party member to seven positions," he said.

Halim added that he had offered Khairuddin the position as the coordinator for a state constituency but the former had turned it down.

However, he said the members have the right to quit.

"Of the 18 who quit, 11 only joined PKR after the 14th general election. Only seven are old members," he said. - Mkini