KUALA LUMPUR: The dismissal of PKR central committee member Zakaria Abdul Hamid and party member Ismail Dulhadi by the party leadership is “bold, yet discriminatory”.
In a noticeably sarcastic statement, PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin said the sacking of the two men shows that the leadership is intent on reforming the party.
“A downgrading reform, that is,” she qualified.
Zuraida said that since the summary dismissal was made before the duo was found guilty in court, similar action should be taken against other party leaders who have allegedly broken the law.
“This includes cases of assault, gangsterism, soliciting bribes during party elections and other publicly-known cases.
“The sacking will only raise questions as to whether the party is being selective in taking disciplinary action, since it was only taken against certain individuals who are seen as siding with certain leaders.
“I denounce the party’s discriminatory action and call for immediate reform of the leadership if the party is to be saved,” she said.
On Sunday, PKR fired Zakaria, who is also PKR Bera division chairman, and Ismail from the party, with immediate effect, on grounds of corruption and bribery.
The party’s disciplinary board chairman, Datuk Ahmad Kassim, said the decision was made after PKR received a letter from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission dated Oct 23 on the alleged wrongdoings, which were said to have occurred during last year’s party elections.
Zakaria was formerly political secretary to Works Minister Baru Bian. His superior had welcomed efforts to investigate Zakaria in September last year, after a police report was lodged against him.
The report was filed by PKR Youth coordinator Ahmad Syukri Che Ab Razab on Sept 25, 2018, which alleged that Zakaria abused his position as a civil servant by promising to give contracts worth RM20,000 and allocations amounting to at least RM300,000, during a meeting with local leaders on Sept 1 in Pahang.
Echoing Zuraida’s sentiments is PKR Youth vice-chief Nazree Yunus, who has called on the leadership to bring the party back on the right track.
He claimed that PKR’s idealism and principles have been ripped apart as they were not properly applied when the decision to fire Zakaria and Ismail was made.
“To make it sadder, the decision was made on the same day the president (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) spoke on bringing back ‘reformasi’.
“The sacking of Zakaria and Ismail showed that the meaning of ‘reformasi’ has been thrown into the garbage bin,” Nazree added.