Nibong Tebal MP Tan quits PKR

UPDATE 2

By Clara Chooi and G. Manimaran

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng (right) today became the second federal lawmaker to leave PKR, delivering another blow to the party that has seen sitting lawmakers leave nearly two years after their historic victory in Election 2008.

Tan made the announcement this morning, saying he will be an Independent MP like Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim.

He also said he had not made up his mind to join another party although he was seen at the Penang Gerakan Chinese New Year open house two weeks ago.

He cited several reasons for his departure from PKR including the fact that there was no channel to air grievances against PKR or criticise Pakatan Rakyat leaders, his row with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy over their allegation that he had abused his position by interfering with open tender exercises.

Tan also voiced disappointment that his party leaders had bowed to Lim’s arrogance and dictatorial leadership and hence sacrificed the party’s dignity.

The 38-year-old Tan who joined PKR in January 2007 and was formerly sacked as the Penang Gerakan Youth Chief in 2002.

Ex-Penang deputy chief minister Mohd Fairus Khairuddin also quit the party last night for Umno while ex-PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim confirmed he quit two weeks ago.

With Tan’s departure, PKR now has 29 MPs in parliament and has reduced the Pakatan Rakyat bench to just 80 lawmakers against Barisan Nasional’s

137.

The other two allies in Pakatan are DAP with 28 MPs and PAS with 23.

Tan insists on suing Guan Eng despite warning

2010/02/28

GEORGE TOWN: Embattled Nibong Tebal member of parliament Tan Tee Beng is adamant about suing Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for defamation although he has been warned against doing so by his party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat. The first-term parliamentarian said his decision to sue the DAP secretary-general was in his personal capacity and had nothing to do with the party.

Tan said it was the only way to clear his name and that of his family's

He also said Lim had made slanderous remarks against him.

"Whether the party likes it or not, I am suing Lim, no matter what, to clear my name," Tan said when contacted.

"Lim must have evidence, otherwise all his claims are defamatory and slanderous."

Tan said Lim's attack on him had been personal and not politically motivated.

"I cannot just do nothing about it."

He was commenting on the recent statement by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that Tan would be subject to party action should he initiate legal action against Lim.

Saifuddin had asked Tan to resolve his problems with Lim through internal party channels.

The relationship between the two state Pakatan Rakyat leaders had become strained in recent weeks after Tan criticised Lim as a chief minister "with no class who practised vengeful politics".

His public admonition came days after his fellow party parliamentarian Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, now the independent representative for Bayan Baru, labelled Lim a "dictator, a "Chinese chauvinist" and "communist-minded".

Tan had on Thursday said he was initiating legal action against Lim for defamation to clear his name.