Nibong Tebal MP Tan might quit if Penang squabble unsolved

By G. Manimaran

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng has issued an ultimatum that he will leave PKR if the party does not solve issues raised by him and Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim against Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng.

The first-time PKR lawmaker has yet to make a final decision to quit the party although there is speculation that he will join the Bayan Baru MP for Barisan Nasional (BN) before Chinese New Year this Feb 14.

“If the issues that have been raised is not solved by the party and state government, I might leave the party... but at this point of time the decision is not in my calendar yet,” he told The Malaysian Insider; saying he was not afraid of being disciplined for his outburst.

Tan and Zahrain form half of the four Penang MPs within PKR. The other two are Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh) and Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff (Balik Pulau). Zahrain has already denied he will walk out of PKR.

According to Tan, Zahrain had raised issues about the state leadership particularly Lim whom he said was not sensitive to problems discussed by PKR allies in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR). PAS makes up the third party in the opposition coalition.

“Plenty of issues were brought up after the general elections have yet to be solved. The issues that were taken there were also sent for the attention of the party but there has been no solution.

“If there is no solution and we are not told of a settlement, how do we explain to the party members? That is why we use the media to raise the problem. Is that wrong,” Tan asked, pointing out the issues which include Lim’s unilateral actions and appointments of state executives.

He also dismissed the possibility of being referred to the party’s disciplinary board as he was sure the panel would not take any action.

“Many cases have been investigated before this, how manyhave had action taken? I am sure those who face the disciplinary board will not face punishment,” Tan said.

PKR last week referred Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin to its disciplinary committee over his police report against PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad. Zahrain and Datuk Zaid Ibrahim were later informed that they too faced disciplinary proceedings and are bound by a media gag.

But Tan said he never discussed quitting the party with Zahrain, whom he had asked to resign as state party chief last year.

This time, he focused on Lim, saying the DAP secretary-general had dictatorial tendencies that have caused a tumult in the otherwise placid state opposition pact.

“The situation has caused Penang to be administered by Lim and not PR as the criticisms are ignored because he thinks he is always right.

“Many leaders in the pact are not fond of his ways but are scared to tick him off for fear of being labelled as Umno or BN agents,” he added.

Zahrain last week criticised Lim’s leadership, and called the chief minister a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded” which Tan said reflected the feelings of other PKR members who have kept quiet in order not to rock the coalition.

He said Lim should be fair and trust all colleagues in the opposition pact to provide good service to the people, in an allusion to a lack of money being disbursed to PR federal lawmakers for small projects within their constituency.

Current Penang PKR chief Dr Mansor Othman still believes that there or four MPs from within could quit soon but expressed confidence it will not affect the party.

“I don’t see it having any effect,” he said when contacted by The Malaysian Insider, adding the party will not hold back those who decide to leave the party,” said the man who earlier disclosed the PKR members are leaving for BN to strengthen it in Parliament.

It is understood that up to 10 MPs could cross over to BN, which needs another 11 out of the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat for it to regain its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Apart from Zahrain, the Merbok MP Datuk Rashid Din and Azan Ismail from Indera Mahkota have strenuously declared that they will not leave BN for any other parties.