Haniza Talha: My expulsion from PKR didn't follow the right procedure

KLANG: Former PKR Wanita chief Haniza Talha (pic) claims her expulsion from PKR did not follow the right procedure.

“The way I was expelled did not follow the right process. I should have been called up by the party’s disciplinary board, but it was not done," said Haniza who was expelled on Sunday (June 28).

She said the suspension letter she received on April 6 stated she would be called before the party’s disciplinary board for meeting former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and former vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin at a hotel on Feb 24.

“However, I heard other reasons were given to justify my sacking from the party," said Haniza, adding that she had not received an official notification from the PKR disciplinary board.

She said some party members told her that among the reasons given for her sacking was a statement she made criticising the disciplinary board.

“Apparently, the other reasons given were the new non-governmental organisation (NGO) I formed called Nation of Women and that I had taken in some former PKR members into the organisation," said Haniza.

She said that PKR had alleged that she was using her NGO to go against the party.

“The NGO is open to all women regardless of their political affiliation. I am speechless with what has been relayed to me," said Haniza.

Haniza added it was a sad turn of events for her as she had been a PKR member since its inception in 1999.

“I joined PKR due to the president’s (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s) sacking from the government.

See what they have done to me? The decision to sack someone is generally made by the party president, ’’ said Haniza.

On her position as an executive councilor in Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s line-up, Haniza said it shouldn't be affected despite her sacking.

“The decision is the Mentri Besar’s, if he wants to retain me. Furthermore, the appointment letter was given to me by the Selangor Sultan and not the party," she said.

Also expelled were two Penang assemblymen, Seberang Jaya’s Dr Afif Bahardin and Sungai Acheh’s Zulkifli Ibrahim, as well as Penang and Sabah’s women chiefs, Nur Zarina Zakaria and Rahimah Majid respectively.

Following Haniza's sacking, PKR is now left with only 17 seats in the Selangor Legislative Assembly out of the 21 seats it won in the 2018 general election.

Besides Haniza, her deputy and former Selangor women chief Dr Daroyah Alwi, who is Sementa assemblyman, Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin and Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham are also no longer in the PKR bloc in the Selangor government.