GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat has welcomed former minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, to join its ranks.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Zaid, sacked by Umno on Tuesday for attending the opening of Parti Keadilan Rakyat's annual national congress in Shah Alam, would be an asset to any party he joined.

"It is not Zaid's loss that he was sacked from Umno. Rather, it is Umno's loss for sacking him.

"Our doors are always open to him... he is a valuable asset," Lim said after presenting aid to a group of 102 people who had memorised the Quran (Huffaz) in the state at the Caring Society Complex here yesterday.

Also present was Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
Lim said he would leave it to the people to decide if the action taken against Zaid was appropriate or otherwise.

"He was sacked just for attending an opposition function ... can this be accepted? Why isn't similar action taken against other Umno leaders found guilty of corruption and those who make sensitive remarks?

"Zaid has done nothing wrong (as far as we are concerned)."

Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the action was taken against Zaid as Umno needed to be consistent and avoid double standards in taking disciplinary action against errant members.

The Umno constitution states that a sacked member cannot appeal against the decision.

Zaid resigned from the cabinet after he disagreed with the government's decision to detain a journalist, a blogger and a Pakatan member of parliament under the Internal Security Act.

He was said to have attended a meeting with Guan Eng last Friday, where DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang was also present.

PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the coalition had held a series of private meetings with Zaid after he resigned from the cabinet on Sept 17.

"He has been engaging with us and we've had discussions with him, but we do not want to push him (to join). Let him have the latitude and space to reflect."

The Permatang Pauh MP said Pakatan Rakyat was comfortable with Zaid, especially on his stand in defending human rights and commitment against draconian laws like the ISA.

"His views are common with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat and as such, I have no problems with his principles and stand," Anwar said.

Kit Siang said the DAP had no problems accepting Zaid if the lawyer-politician was interested.

He said Zaid's sacking was a reflection that the Umno leadership had lost its direction.

"There are more important things like tackling corruption and money politics in Umno, and yet they are still concerned over a member's presence at opposition functions."