PKR rift worsens as Zulkifli challenges Sivarasa

2009/11/11

KUALA LUMPUR: The growing rift within Parti Keadilan Rakyat has once again come out into the open, despite PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s warning that those who failed to toe the party’s line should quit PKR or be prepared to be sacked.

Yesterday, PKR’s Kulim Bandar Baru member of parliament Zulkifli Noordin called for a press conference at Parliament lobby and slammed party comrade and fellow MP R. Sivarasa for accusing him (Zulkifli) as the culprit meant by Anwar.

Seven other PKR MPs also came out in support of Zulkifli while openly criticising Sivarasa.

Zulkifli challenged Sivarasa, who is PKR vice-president, to quit the post and re-contest against him.

“I challenge Sivarasa to step down within 24 hours. Let PKR members decide whether defending and upholding Islam and the Muslim rights is or is not the party policy.

“If I lose, then I am more than willing to leave PKR, for a party that does not defend and uphold Islam and Muslim rights is not the party I should be associated with,” he said, reading a prepared statement.

On Monday, Sivarasa had said that Anwar’s warning to party members to leave and join Umno was aimed at people like Zulkifli, whose actions were not in line with party policies.

Zulkifli took a swipe at Sivarasa, questioning the latter’s meaning of “party policy”.

“Whose policy is he talking about? His policy? Is defending the rights of Islam and Muslims against the PKR policy?” He added that Sivarasa and his friends had their own agenda in the party and were only interested in championing issues of some nongovernmental organisations.

“They have become slaves of the NGOs when they should fight for the rights of the rakyat.” Zulkifli questioned whether fighting for Islam and Muslims was a sin in PKR and whether human rights meant only rights of others but not Muslims. He reiterated that upholding the religion and defending the rights of Muslims were something very dear to him and he would not hesitate to choose Islam over politics.

“I am a Muslim first and an MP second. I am a Muslim first and a party member second.” Earlier, seven PKR MPs called for another press conference at Parliament and defended Zulkifli, saying that Sivarasa’s statement was uncalled for and it was unfair to single out Zulkifli based on Anwar’s speech.

“He (Anwar) did not make any specific reference to a person and he meant all leaders. It was a general statement,” said Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

Zahrain, Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas (PKR-Teluk Kemang), Abdullah Sani Abd Hamid (PKR-Kuala Langat), Mohd Yusmadi Yusof (PKR-Balik Pulau), Azan Ismail (PKR-Indera Mahkota), Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) and Abd Aziz Abd Kadir (PKR-Ketereh) were of the view that Sivarasa had made an uncalled for statement against Zulkifli.

Wee added that Zulkifli had the right to speak up in the best interests of the rakyat even if his statements were bitter for some.

At the Penang PKR Convention on Sunday, Anwar had said he would not compromise with leaders and members who could not follow party policies and asked them to give their commitment to the party, or leave and join Umno instead.