Anwar: I’m disappointed with Zahrain

PKR advisor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is dissapointed with Zahrain. - Picture by Jack Ooi

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 12 — PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his disappointment over Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim’s decision to quit the opposition party and become an independent.
Zahrain, one of four PKR MPs in Penang, announced this morning that he was quitting the party, making him the first federal lawmaker from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to turn independent.
“As a fellow colleague and friend, I am disappointed because he had never brought this up (decision to quit) at a party level, besides his personal spat with Lim Guan Eng,” said Anwar to reporters outside the Court of Appeal here.
Anwar maintained that Zahrain’s verbal assaults against the Penang Chief Minister had been uncalled for and unnecessary.
“I am also disappointed because of the promise we gave to the people of Bayan Baru..they had given us a mandate, they had sacrificed to elect him (Zahrain) as a spokesperson of Pakatan Rakyat, not an independent or Barisan-friendy spokesperson.”
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Rakyat defacto leader, refused to elaborate further and said that the news was new to him and he needed to consult his colleagues first.
He also declined to respond when a reporter asked him and Karpal Singh, his lawyer and Bukit Gelugor MP, on the possible repercussions of Zahrain’s resignation on PR’s hold in Penang.
Karpal dismissed the impact of Zahrain’s resignation.
“There are no repercussions. Zahrain’s departure is not a loss to Pakatan Rakyat in Penang,” said Karpal, who is also DAP National Chairman.
The veteran lawyer said that Penang was still a PR stronghold, and brushed aside suggestions that Zahrain’s resignation would result in a major backlash for the coalition.
“Zahrain is no giant of a politician,” said Karpal.
At a press conference earlier this morning, Zahrain told reporters he was beginning to have doubts in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, citing the actions of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng whom he described as a “chauvinist, dictator and communist-minded”.
His resignation comes amid rumours that several other PKR MPs would quit before the Chinese Lunar New Year which is on Sunday.
“In the name of God, I would like to announce my resignation from PKR,” said Zahrain adding that he will remain as an independent in Parliament.
Since Election 2008, five PKR state assemblymen have left the party to become Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters.
Zahrain had been referred to the PKR disciplinary committee after he called Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “a dictator, chauvinist and Communist-minded.”
DAP leaders have responded to Zahrain claims saying that the former Umno man is unhappy, as a company linked to him had failed to secure a government contract.
Zahrain is also said to be a leading a group of PR MPs who intend to help BN regain its two-third majority. He denied the allegation.
Besides Zahrain, another Penang PKR leader, Tan Tee Beng, had also lashed out at Lim by stating that he is “a leader without class who practised vengeful politics”.
Like Zahrain, Tan has also been referred to the PKR’s disciplinary committee.