I rejected Johor PKR chairman’s post to give others a chance to lead, says Hassan

JOHOR BARU: Hassan Abdul Karim rejected his appointment as Johor PKR chairman in order to give opportunities to other capable leaders within the party and not because Pakatan Harapan was accepting former Umno members.

The Pasir Gudang MP added that his decision to reject the post was done on his own accord and did not concern anyone or any political parties.

“I have already held the position for one term and it is better to give a chance to other leaders within Johor PKR who are more capable than me.

“We have seven PKR MPs and five assemblymen in Johor, so I am not indispensable,” he said.

Hassan, who is a lawyer by profession, denied allegations that his rejection of the state PKR chairman post was in protest of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) accepting former Umno members.

“It has nothing to do with Umno members jumping over into PH component parties, it is purely my own decision,” he said after officiating a back to school programme in Permas Jaya here on Sunday (Dec 23).

He added that he would continue to support whoever was appointed as the new chairman in Johor.

“This is a small issue that I am sure PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can handle,” he said.

It was reported that Hassan has rejected his appointment as Johor PKR chairman and would remain as an ordinary member.

He said his appointment as the state PKR chairman had been disputed and it was only appropriate that he step down.

His resignation came on the same day that Nurul Izzah Anwar resigned as PKR vice-president and the party’s Penang chief.

Former PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya had earlier slammed the party, claiming there was cronyism and nepotism in the appointment of party state chiefs, including that of Nurul Izzah.