Azmin says will not be cowed by PKR bid to claim RM10mil in compensation

Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali

KUALA PILAH: Former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will not be cowed by the party's decision to claim RM10mil in compensation from him and every one of the 19 other MPs and assemblymen who had left the party.

The Senior Minister said even if he had the money, there was no reason for him to hand it to a party which was no longer relevant.

"Why do I need to pay a party that is already spoiled and irrelevant? If I had the money, I would rather give it to the rakyat," he told reporters after launching the Korban Perdana programme organised by Penggerak Komuniti Negara.

Also present was Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

On Wednesday (July 29), PKR treasurer-general Lee Chean Chung said the party would be issuing letters of demand to claim RM10mil each from the assemblymen and MPs.

Lee claimed this was the amount they had agreed to pay if they defected and appropriated their seats for personal benefits and used it against the interests of the party.

The other MPs are Zuraida (Ampang), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) and Baru Bian (Selangau).

The state assemblymen involved are Dr Chong Fat Full (Pemanis), Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia), Datuk Abdul Yunus Jamahri (Kuala Krau), Muhammad Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia), Azman Nasrudin (Lunas), Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam), Haniza Mohamed Talha (Lembah Jaya), Daroyah Alwi (Sementa) and Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Aceh).

Azmin described Lee's statement as lacking intelligence.

"I have nothing to worry," he added.

Zuraida had prior to this dismissed the demand by PKR, saying that it had no cause to claim compensation as she had been expelled by the party.