PKR Ready To Act On Guan Eng

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 01:14 |

DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will be referred to Pakatan Rakyat’s presidential council if the damning allegations levelled against him are proven to be true.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said PKR would refer the matter to the top leadership if Bayan Baru member of parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim could provide concrete evidence to support his scathing attack on Lim.

“If there is truth in the allegations (against Lim), then the council is the most appropriate and responsible channel (to decide on the matter).

“We do not only listen to ‘beautiful’ things about the leaders and members, but also to ‘hideous’ matters,” Saifuddin said when contacted by the New Straits Times.

He said the party welcomed any form of evidence and Zahrain should justify his allegations against Lim to clear up the situation.

Zahrain, who roused controversy for branding Lim “a dictator, chauvinist and communist-minded”, claimed to have evidence to back his allegations against the Penang chief minister.

Zahrain has said he will “spill the beans” and present strong evidence when he is called by the party’s disciplinary committee to provide explanation on his attack against Lim.

In an interview with the NST on Monday, Zahrain accused Lim of taking advantage of his position as chief minister to sit on the state tender board and decide who should get each and every contract.

Also joining the fray against Lim was Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, who said the chief minister’s dictatorial ways and vengeful politics had split the Chinese community in Penang.

Saifuddin said the party had issued a notification letter to Zahrain yesterday to inform him of the party’s decision to refer him to the disciplinary committee and requested his cooperation.

Zahrain, 2 others to know date with disciplinary panel
The same measure was also taken against Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin, who created a brouhaha by lodging a police report against fellow Pakatan MP Khalid Samad of Pas, and to supreme council member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for accusing the party leadership of “lacking guts” for not punishing Zulkifli.

Saifuddin said the three would be informed of the date to face the committee, which is expected to complete its investigations in one month.

Asked whether Tan would also face the committee for backing Zahrain’s allegations against Lim, Saifuddin said the party’s political bureau had not decided on the matter.

“The bureau usually meets every Wednesday, but I am not sure whether we will meet tomorrow (today) because of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim court case. But if we meet, we will discuss Tan,” he added.

The second sodomy trial involving Anwar and his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, starts today.

In a statement yesterday, Saifuddin said the party respected the rights of individuals to debate or disagree with the central leadership, but it must be done through the appropriate channels.

He said party members should not jeopardise the party’s image by making baseless accusations against leaders.

“The PKR leadership is determined to take firm action against members who contravene party discipline.”

Saifuddin said the mainstream media had been portraying the party as ridden with internal squabbles, but said “the fact is far from it”.

“Such negative publicity had been part of our daily challenges since the formation of the party.”