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.

Tan : "I don't think Penang DAP is short of capable people. If possible, we should replace this arrogant chief minister,"

Controversial PKR Nibong Tebal parliamentarian Tan Tee Beng today apologised to Syed Husin Ali and retracted his remarks made against the PKR deputy president.

Tan issued the apology after emerging from a two-hour disciplinary committee meeting at the PKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 5pm.

He however refused to do the same regarding his criticism of DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The PKR disciplinary board convened this afternoon to hear Tan's explanation of his public criticism of two top Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

"I take back my statement about Syed Husin Ali and sincerely apologise," Tan said.

Tan explained the reason for his outburst was because he was “provoked”.

"But I realised now that it was all a misunderstanding," he claimed.

Tan was issued a show-cause letter last week, leading to the disciplinary action against him.

The MP had earlier been reprimanded after launching scathing verbal attack on PKR deputy president Syed Husin and Lim.

Tan, the Nibong Tebal MP, had sought to expedite the hearing and submitted a letter to the party yesterday saying he wants to clear his name.

No apology to Lim

As for his comments on Lim, Tan said he refused to offer an apology that he would leave it to the disciplinary committee to make a decision on the matter.

“I will leave the matter in relation to Lim Guan Eng to the party leadership,” he said.

Tan was accompanied by Kapar MP S Manikavasagam and Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne. Both parliamentarians have voiced their support for Tan.

Loh stressed that the tiff was no fault of any party as it was a misunderstanding.

“Everyone should take a step back and take all matters into consideration,” he urged.

Also present was Ampang MP and PKR Women's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who called for an end to speculations of defections by disgruntled party representatives.

“Tan had already come forward to air his grievances in the right platform,” she said.

Tan had on Feb 3 called Syed Husin to quit at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The MP had maded the call claiming he was appalled to read Syed Husin's remarks in Malaysiakini the day before saying that Tan "can go anytime".

"The one who should leave is him, not me," Tan had shot back.

Meanwhile, Tan described Lim as “arrogant”.

"I don't think Penang DAP is short of capable people. If possible, we should replace this arrogant chief minister," he had said.

MP wants Lim removed

I like this guy , he has the guts to call a spade a spade ! No holds barred !

KUALA LUMPUR - Following his outburst last week against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng went a step further Wednesday - he said Lim has to be sacked from the post!

"Lim should be replaced by Pakatan Rakyat or he will be replaced by the people," he told a press conference here.
Tan, a former Gerakan member, claimed that had it not been for PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim, there would not have been the 'tsunami' that swept the three-party alliance into power in Penang.

"Do not treat us like a dog," added Tan, who won his seat under a PKR ticket in the March 2008 general election.

He and fellow PKR parliamentarian Zahrain Hashim had publicly attacked Lim and accused the CM of being dictatorial, Communist-minded and 'no class'.

Zahrain, the Bayan Baru MP and state PKR chairman until he was replaced by Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othmsn last November, is now being investigated by the party's disciplinary committee on charges of undermining Pakatan unity.

Also wants PR deputy president suspended

Tan said other MPs did not speak up because they were cowed by Lim’s arrogance.

He said he was willing to be expelled from the party for refusing to toe the party line and also claimed that PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali had asked him to stop criticising another Pakatan component.

Extending his attacks to Syed Husin, Tan called on the party leaders to suspend the senator's deputy presidency in the PKR.

Tan claimed that since Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), which Syed Husin led before it merged with Parti Keadilan Rakyat to form PKR) still exists, Syed Husin's position in PKR is questionable. - Malaysian Mirror

'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.

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.

Jeff Ooi calls for stern action against PKR leaders

Who is lying ? Jeff Ooi says Tan was not happy that the recommendation by his party for him to become the chairman of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP)

Tan Tee Beng says :“For positions in Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA), Penang Development Corporation (PDA) and investPenang, PKR has to beg,” Tan said, adding that he was nominated by PKR to become a PBA director but was sidelined by Lim for constantly speaking out against him.

Chairman of PBAPP or PBAPP Director ? Which is which ? Which is the correct version ?

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's chief of staff Jeff Ooi wants PKR to take stern action against its members who, he claimed, were attempting to break up the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in the state.

Ooi, who is the member of parliament for Jelutong, said he hoped that PKR would take some affirmative action to resolve the issue relating to its members making personal attacks on Lim.

"I hope they (PKR) can make a decisive judgment on this issue so that the entire Penang state can move on under the Pakatan coalition," he told reporters in Penang today.

He was responding to a report today that the Penang DAP-PKR tiff had worsened after another PKR MP Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), threw his support behind fellow party leader Zahrain Mohd Hashim (Bayan Baru MP) by labelling Lim as a leader without class.

Ooi said Tan and Zahrain shared the same problem of political frustration for having made their negative statements through the media. But Jeff , can you please answer to all the issues brought by by Tan and Zahrain ? Why are you people ie LGE and you deflecting all the issues brought up by them to one of political frustration . On Tan is the director/chairman of PBAPP and on Zahrain is the management of the state-owned Bukit Jambul Golf and Country !

"This is a classic case of political frustration. When they do not get whatever they desire, they start making noise," he said.

He explained that Tan was not happy that the recommendation by his party for him to become the chairman of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and his intervention in the tender process of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to get his relative a shophouse lot were not fulfilled. Tan had earlier mentioned that Lim had so far not even dared to answer any of Zahrain's damning allegations but instead chose to hide behind Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman's ‘samping’ or underneath his "sarong " ?

"We cannot accept all the recommendations and endorsements which have been made. We must consider putting the people first," he said.

However, he said, the Pakatan coalition would make contingency plans for the Bayan Baru and Nibong Tebal constituencies to maintain the people's support for the party.

Earlier, deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy welcomed the decision of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to refer Zahrain to the party disciplinary committee.

"There is a proper forum to raise the issue, especially during the Pakatan meeting, and making it public is not the idea of Pakatan," he said.

Last week, Zahrain said Lim was a dictator and a chauvinist and communist-minded while yesterday Tan expressed his support for Zahrain.

Tan went a step further by hitting out at his party leaders in the state government for failing to assert their position in the state Pakatan Rakyat.

He even warned that PKR would end up with nothing if the leaders were weak and continued to bend to Lim's will.

Nibong Tebal’s Tan defends

Zahrain, labels CM leader

without class

Not afraid to be hauled up by the PKR ( Pakatan Kerangkabut ) disciplinary committee . Maybe he has already removed the planks from the bridge .

"They can call me a traitor, a BN agent, a CIA agent or anything else. I don't care. I want the people to know who they have voted in to lead Penang."

"When we speak up and tell the truth, they label us as troublemakers," he said.

Tan said he wanted to come clean and expose "the real Lim Guan Eng" so the people in Penang would not continue to be fooled by the "outsider from Malacca".

By ANDREA FILMER

andrea@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: Outspoken Ni­­bong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng has thrown his support behind fellow PKR member Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Has­­him in his spat with Penang Chief Minis­ter Lim Guan Eng.

He went a step further by labeling Lim as a leader without class who practiced vengeful politics and hitting out at his party leaders in the state government for failing to assert their position in the state Pakatan Rakyat.

Tan warned that PKR would end up with nothing if the leaders are weak and continued to bend to Lim’s will.

“In Penang, PKR is like an opposition party. Sadly, we are facing this kind of dictator in the state government. We MPs have no allocation and the state is not help­­ing us at all.

“In Selangor, the ruling party is PKR but all Pakatan MPs get a RM100,000 allocation for their constituency and RM50,000 for office expenses from the state government. In Penang, nothing ... zero,” none of the PKR MPs received "a single penny" from the state government compared with DAP MPs who were treated differently.Tan told a press conference yesterday.

He claimed that all seven DAP MPs, excluding Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh who has his own funds as national chairman, received some forms of allocation from the state by being in charge of the state’s education funds, having access to the facilities of the Chief Minister’s office or for holding state executive posts.

“On top of this, all the allocations given out by the state is being portrayed as being given by the DAP.

“For positions in Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA), Penang Development Corporation (PDA) and investPenang, PKR has to beg,” Tan said, adding that he was nominated by PKR to become a PBA director but was sidelined by Lim for constantly speaking out against him.

He accused Lim of putting the interest of his own party at the expense of other parties in Pakatan.

“Lim and his father (DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang) are trying to turn PKR into a ‘Malay party’ by sidelining all the Chinese in PKR so they can portray themselves as the heroes of the Chinese.

“I do not believe they even share our aspiration of taking over Putrajaya. If they did, why was Lim and three other Penang DAP MPs ( Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy (Batu Kawan), Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung) and Ooi Chuan Aun (Jelutong), absent when we were defeated by one vote during the voting on the Supply Bill 2010 in Parliament (in December last year)?” he asked.

He said Lim always blamed others for his failure to do anything, including the previous government.

Citing the International Dragon Boat championship held at the Teluk Bahang Dam, Tan said the PKR MP for the area, Yusmadi, was not even invited to attend.

Similar disclosures were also made by Zahrain, who revealed that he knew nothing of the Penang International Convention Centre project that had been planned by Lim in Bayan Baru.

Claiming that Lim had so far not even dared to answer any of Zahrain's damning allegations but instead chose to hide behind Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman's ‘samping’, Tan said the Chief Minister was trying to create dissension within the state PKR by forcing a “face off” between his deputy and Zahrain.

Tan also lashed out at state PKR leaders, in particular Mansor, state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, state legislative Deputy Speaker Tan Hock Leong and Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong, for being Lim’s ‘yes’ men.

Tan said he wanted to come clean and expose "the real Lim Guan Eng" so the people in Penang would not continue to be fooled by the "outsider from Malacca".

More PKR Members of Parliament coming out into the open to expose our Penang Cheap Minister ! as leader without class . Boh Liow !

ALL PKR Chinese assemblyman and MPs , you are welcome to join MCA !