PKR assemblyman ready to face party sanctions

GEORGE TOWN: Sungai Acheh assemblyman Zulkifli Ibrahim from PKR is facing party sanctions for publicly saying the party should leave Pakatan Harapan because of the differences in who should be prime minister.

Penang PKR acting head Muhammad Bakthiar Wan Chik said disciplinary action would be taken against Zulkifli for his outburst.“We leave it to the leadership to decide on the type of action taken.

“We don’t want such a ‘batu api’ (instigator) in the party,” said Bakhtiar yesterday.

Zulkifli, in response, said he was ready for any disciplinary action and that he had spoken the truth.

“I spoke the truth; PKR should quit Pakatan Harapan as DAP and Amanah would have failed to support party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be prime minister if the coalition wins the next general election.

“It’s the view of most of the members, and PKR leadership should not be indecisive on this issue but be firm and make the decision to quit,” he said.

Zulkifli, in a statement three days ago, said PKR should quit Penang’s DAP-led government for “betraying” Anwar.

“It’s becoming a norm in the party, where disciplinary action is taken for speaking the truth,” said Zulkifli, who was present yesterday at a meeting consisting of several Penang Opposition assemblymen with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Putrajaya.

Others in the meeting were Bertam assemblyman Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishak and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim (both from Bersatu) and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin (PKR).

Also present was Penaga assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PAS).

Meanwhile, Machang Bubok assemblymen Lee Khai Loon, who was rumoured to be aligned with the PKR breakaway cartel of Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, said he was staying put in PKR.

“I am still in PKR and Pakatan and it is not true that I am leaving the party,” he said.