Friday April 16, 2010

PKR's Bakar Arang rep Wei Shu quits over 'lying' party leaders

By IZATUN SHARI

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR assemblyman from Kedah sprang an unpleasant surprise for his party just a day before it goes into the Hulu Selangor by-election campaign in Selangor.

Bakar Arang assemblyman Tan Wei Shu resigned with immediate effect citing certain leaders in PKR had used him “for their own self-interests.”

No turning back: Tan waving to pressmen after announcing his decision to leave PKR in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Tan said he would remain as an Independent assemblyman and stressed that his decision to quit had nothing to do with his being dropped as Kedah state exco member recently.

“For the past few weeks, I have been waiting for certain PKR leaders to apologise in the press for spreading lies about me.

“They claimed that I’m incapable and not doing my work when I have a proven a track record in serving the people for the past two years,” he told a press conference to announce his resignation here yesterday.

It was reported that Tan had been at loggerheads with Sungai Petani state assemblyman Johari Abdul and claimed that the latter had allegedly spread lies about him over the past weeks.

Tan demanded an apology from Johari who had refused to do so. Tan then declared war against the latter.

“I don’t know how to brag, lie, curry favour or sweet talk but I know whether to do or not to do. I speak the truth not like some two-faced PKR leaders,” said Tan, who will be handing his quit letter to PKR leadership soon.

Tan said he felt used because when the party fielded him to contest in the 2008 general election, educational background was not an issue but after serving the rakyat for two years, the professionals were favoured against less educated candidates like him.

“I’ve waited for almost a month, I can’t take it any longer. How do you work with such leaders? We are here not to scramble for power,” said Tan when asked why he was quitting now.

Asked if he would become a Barisan-friendly assemblyman, he said: “I will support whoever is right, I will not support whoever is wrong. I will hold on to my promises to the people.”

“I love (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim but now that I see (Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak working, I’m beginning to love him. I love them both. Unlike in the past, the leader now goes down to the ground. I frankly say that I love Anwar but I want a leader who really serves the people.”

“If Najib’s leadership style is appealing to the rakyat, I will also accept him. If the rakyat doesn’t accept him, I too will not support him.”

PKR had been rocked by the resignations of three law makers – Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri – over the past few months.

The party later sacked maverick Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin.

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