About 100 PKR Kedah members, including several division chiefs, quit the party today in an apparent move to cripple the party's leadership in the northern state.
Lunas assemblyperson Azman Nasrudin, who quit the party last week with Sidam's Robert Ling to pledge support for Perikatan Nasional, said more members would follow suit in the coming days.
The duo's decision led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government in Kedah which will see the swearing-in of a new menteri besar, Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor tomorrow replacing Mukhriz Mahathir.
At a press conference in Alor Setar this afternoon, Azman said the members' move to quit the party was a "manifestation of dissatisfaction "towards the party leadership, helmed by president Anwar Ibrahim.
"This dissatisfaction towards the administration in PKR begun since the 2018 internal party elections," Azman claimed.
"When former president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail held the leadership role, the party went on smoothly and although there were differences in opinion, we could still manage," he recalled.
"Anwar does not run the party in a fair or democratic manner, he appointed losers to leadership roles, those who differ in views with him are sacked, or have disciplinary action taken against them," Azman alleged.
Azman said about 500 to 600 party members are expected to quit and join PN led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a coalition of PKR turncoats and Umno and PAS MPs.
Other than Ling, who was Sungai Petani PKR division chief, those present today were division chiefs Hashim Idris (Padang Terap), Abdullah Mat Isa (Kuala Kedah) and deputy chiefs Rasdan Ismail (Pendang), Mohd Firdaus Yusuf (Sungai Petani), vice-chief Mohd Aziz Shukri (Baling), youth chiefs Ridzuan Razali, (Padang Serai) and Khairul Azmi Rosli (Kulim Bandar Baru) and Norhashimah Hashim, Kedah deputy Wanita chief.
They are reportedly key figures in the party in the northern region who are aligned to former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
Azmin had initiated the "Sheraton Move" together with 10 other rogue PKR MPs plus MPs from Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS and Warisan who met at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya on Feb 23 to finalise political manoeuvres which later led to the ouster of the Harapan government by the new coalition dubbed Perikatan Nasional.
Meanwhile, Setampin branch members have also declared their departure from PKR as they felt they were also victims of the political fallout between Anwar and Azmin.
In a statement to the media, the members said they were quitting as the lofty ambitions of the party remained unfulfilled.
"Recent events revealed that the party is only focused on Anwar's personal ambition to be PM, we in Sarawak are not keen to participate in his personal agenda," the statement said.
"Sarawak's autonomy vis the MA63 agreement was never taken seriously as party matters continue to be decided by West Malaysians," they added.
The statement went on to say that there was no more room for having alternative views in the party and that members were being terminated for having dissenting opinions.
"The termination of Batu Lintang assemblyperson See Chee How (ex-Stampin branch chief) is the last straw for us.
"To us, he was the voice of justice and reason within the party, if anyone could convince party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur it would have been him," they added.
"The draconian act by West Malaysia to terminate him without even a show-cause letter indicates to us that all hope is gone," they stressed.
The group said they will continue to support See and Selangau MP Baru Bian as their "principles, mettle and leadership" have been unwavering and inspired them all.
"They have further assured us that their priority is Sarawak, her people, their prosperity, their health and their development," the group added.
Those who signed the statement were:
Fabian Ngui - chairperson, Stampin committee
Loo Chao Ming - deputy division chief
Narawi Palayan Miniandi - division vice-chief
Desmond Kho - secretary
Raymond Tan Teng Chin - treasurer
Kwang Swee Min - social welfare and committee member
Adrian Ngo Ching Loong - campaign director Stampin division
Jeffery Mok - youth division secretary - Mkini
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