Patriot urges scrutiny into sacking of PKR members, claims issue is of public interest

PETALING JAYA: The sacking of two PKR members, including PKR central leadership council member Zakaria Abdul Hamid, have become a public interest issue, not just an internal party matter, say Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot).

Patriot president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji (pic) raised concerns over the fact that 20 PKR supreme council members, among whom are three cabinet members, had so adamantly defended the two members.

"The merits of the case should have been studied before they protested against the sacking of the duo. PKR is part of the ruling coalition and this is of serious concern to the public. It calls into question the integrity of the political leaders," he said.

Mohamed Arshad also noted that it was "very shameful" if the alleged corruption was true, as it seemed that it had happened during the first year of the Pakatan Harapan government.

He added that this issue serves as a warning to all Pakatan parties that the public cannot tolerate any form of corruption even on small amounts and involving small projects, adding that all its parties "must keep their political leaders at all levels in check".

Meanwhile, Zakaria criticised Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claiming they had spread false perception that he was involved in corruption.

He said that the party president and secretary-general had been taking pot-shots at him through the media despite no corruption charges were brought against him.

"The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki has confirmed that the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) has decided that there will be no prosecution against me.

"It is thus mischievous and ill-intentioned of Anwar and Saifuddin to give the false perception that I have committed the offence of corruption," the PKR Bera division chief said in a statement on Saturday night (Nov 30).

Zakaria added that it was also shocking that Anwar and Saifuddin had pretended that it was not important that MACC had stated that the letter, sent by the anti-graft agency to PKR, was wrongly issued.

The Bera PKR division chief claimed that their actions suggest that they "did not understand the importance of having a fair process in judging disciplinary matters".

Last Sunday, PKR announced that Zakaria and Ismail Duhladi, an ordinary member from Pahang, were stripped of their party membership following corruption allegations brought against them by the MACC.

PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim had said the party received a letter from MACC dated Oct 23 on the allegations, which allegedly happened during last year's party elections.

Zakaria had previously also clarified that he had not committed any corruption as alleged, adding that he had only merely answered questions by members on how to apply for small projects advertised by the Bera District Council.

Zakaria reiterated that he only urged members to apply for small projects by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

"Let me emphasise that they were only asked to apply for it. What is wrong with that? Where is the offence? The ultimate decision whether to award any small project is up to the authority concerned and in fact, finally, none of them were awarded any project at all," he said.