PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin called for a reform in the party leadership, in the wake of “selective persecution” against leaders in opposing camps.
"I condemn selective action in the party," she said, adding that widening divisions could cause the party to collapse.
She said this in response to PKR's decision on Sunday (Nov 24) to sack central leadership council member Zakaria Abdul Hamid and ordinary member Ismail Dulhadi.
PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim had said they were sacked on suspicion of corruption, after the party received a letter dated Oct 23 from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Zuraida questioned claims that MACC had proposed the party take action against members who have yet to be proven guilty in a court of law.
"If the allegation is true, then the party should also take action against members implicated in fights, gangsterism, as well as against those demanding bribes during party polls, and many other offences that had been publicly highlighted," she said.
However, Zuraida said PKR's action against Zakaria could be seen as a bold step, in line with the party's reform agenda.
She qualified her statement by saying that action only taken against members aligned to certain leaders could be construed as selective persecution.
Zakaria has since claimed that proper procedures were not followed in his sacking, saying he was denied a right to be heard.
Some quarters see the action taken against Zakaria as a warning to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, who had boycotted the recent Sarawak PKR convention.
Zakaria was a former political secretary to Bian, who is seen as being supportive of PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Bian had boycotted the Sarawak PKR congress because the party had blocked Azmin from opening the PKR Youth National Convention.
"I condemn selective action in the party," she said, adding that widening divisions could cause the party to collapse.
She said this in response to PKR's decision on Sunday (Nov 24) to sack central leadership council member Zakaria Abdul Hamid and ordinary member Ismail Dulhadi.
PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim had said they were sacked on suspicion of corruption, after the party received a letter dated Oct 23 from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Zuraida questioned claims that MACC had proposed the party take action against members who have yet to be proven guilty in a court of law.
"If the allegation is true, then the party should also take action against members implicated in fights, gangsterism, as well as against those demanding bribes during party polls, and many other offences that had been publicly highlighted," she said.
However, Zuraida said PKR's action against Zakaria could be seen as a bold step, in line with the party's reform agenda.
She qualified her statement by saying that action only taken against members aligned to certain leaders could be construed as selective persecution.
Zakaria has since claimed that proper procedures were not followed in his sacking, saying he was denied a right to be heard.
Some quarters see the action taken against Zakaria as a warning to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, who had boycotted the recent Sarawak PKR convention.
Zakaria was a former political secretary to Bian, who is seen as being supportive of PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Bian had boycotted the Sarawak PKR congress because the party had blocked Azmin from opening the PKR Youth National Convention.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
