'No class CM' MP Tan Tee Beng remains defiant

GEORGE TOWN - PKR's Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng is willing to be sacked for refusing to toe the party line.

Tan claimed he had received an SMS from PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali asking him to "stop criticising" Pakatan Rakyat's component party but he remains defiant.

"He said it was bad for the party's image (but) I did not respond to the SMS.

"I will continue speaking my mind even if the party decides to haul me up before the disciplinary committee," Star Online quoted him as saying.

"Unless and until PKR takes a stand and looks into the concerns raised, I will not keep quiet even if it means that I'll be sacked from the party," he said, claiming that many party members agreed with his stand.

"So far there has been no hostility from my comrades although they are asking me to remain cool," he said.

Tan, who openly lashed out against state PKR chairman Mansor Othman's new state liaison committee line-up last November, had earlier slammed former state party chairman Zahrain Mohd Hashim for failing to perform.

'No, I didn't issue ultimatum'

However on Sunday, Tan threw his support behind Zahrain in the latter's spat with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He went a step further, labelling Lim "a leader without class who practised vengeful politics."

Zahrain is now being investigated by the party's disciplinary committee on charges of undermining Pakatan unity.

"My earlier call for Zahrain to be replaced as state chief wasn't personal - I was merely representing those who wanted him out," said Tan.

He also refuted claims that he had issued an ultimatum to PKR and the state government to solve Pakatan's problems in the state.

"I was contacted by the media asking me about my supposed ultimatum -- I don't know how this rumour came about," he said.

Tan was silent when asked if he would resign if the matter remained unsolved.