Indera Mahkota PKR urges Saifuddin to resign as MP for being part of Azmin's 11

KUANTAN: The Indera Mahkota PKR division is demanding Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic) to resign as the MP with immediate effect for betraying the mandate of the people.

In a strongly worded statement, the division said Saifuddin was an ingrate for joining former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and his faction in quitting the party.

"His win in Indera Mahkota was due to the blessing of then party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and the assistance of the division machinery during the 14th General Election.

"His betrayal of the voters' mandate has not only upset voters in the parliamentary constituency but also damaged the image of PKR," the division said after an emergency meeting on Friday (Feb 28).

The division said Saifuddin, who sided with Azmin and his faction, had caused the current political impasse.

"Their action is not to ensure the nation's administration is stable and peaceful but for the sake of their positions and personal interests.

"Leaders such as Saifuddin, who only look after his own personal interests, have resulted in national instability and affected the economy. These turncoats are still trying to justify their action with flimsy excuses.

"They have to be responsible for the whole incident," it said.

Indera Mahkota PKR chief Lee Chean Chung said they were shocked by Saifuddin's move and only found out about it through media reports.

"He never communicated with us. We have to draw a clear line today," he said.

Lee, who is the Semambu assemblyman, said the division would withdraw all cooperation and support for those who had betrayed the party and the people's mandate.

Asked if the division would appoint a coordinator to take over Saifuddin's duties, Lee said it had yet to be discussed.

On whether Pakatan Harapan would contest the seat should Saifuddin stand again in the event of a snap election, Lee said: "Of course".

Saifuddin was previously an Umno member and was the Temerloh MP until his defeat by PAS' Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi in the 2013 elections.

He subsequently quit Umno in 2015 and joined PKR.

In GE14, Saifuddin contested the Indera Mahkota parliamentary seat and won with a 10,950-vote majority.

He was then appointed as Foreign Minister in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Cabinet.