GEORGE TOWN: Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, who announced that he would be seated with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the coming state legislative assembly sitting earlier today, confirmed he has been sacked by PKR.
He was suspended from PKR in April pending an investigation by the party's disciplinary board.
Speaking to the New Straits Times this evening, Dr Afif said he was informed of his sacking at the recent PKR political bureau meeting.
"As Bakhtiar (acting state PKR chairman Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik) says, I am sacked from the party (PKR).
"Since the Pakatan Harapan state government has put me as the opposition, I will be sitting as a Bersatu representative in the coming state legislative assembly sitting," he said when contacted.
Dr Afif, however, did not respond to NST's queries if he had submitted his membership application to Bersatu.
The latest development came less than 24 hours after Dr Afif and several PKR and Bersatu assemblymen here met with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Putrajaya yesterday.
The others were Bersatu's Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishak (Bertam), Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) and PKR's Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh). Also spotted at the meeting was Pas' sole representative here Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (Penaga).
Khaliq and Zolkifly have since voiced their support for Bersatu, under Muhyiddin's leadership, which prompted the Penang Pakatan Harapan government to announce that it would table a motion at the next state legislative assembly sitting to compel the duo, who withdrew their support for the administration, to vacate their seats.
The move is in line with Section 14A of the Penang Constitution where any defecting elected representative is required to vacate their seat.
The Penang Pakatan Harapan Leadership Council, which met last month, had also decided that following the latest development, Dr Afif - who has often been seen as Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali's staunch supporter - Khaliq and Zolkifly were no longer part of the state government.
The Penang government had also suspended the allocations and privileges of the trio.
Dr Afif said the issue of him defecting did not arise as he was "sacked without any due process by PKR and Pakatan Harapan".
When contacted, Zolkifly maintained that he was still a PKR member and said he would leave it to the party leadership to decide on his fate.
"As far as I am concerned, I did nothing wrong in meeting with the prime minister. Even PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with the prime minister recently," he said.
Zolkifly said during yesterday's meeting with Muhyiddin, several issues were raised such as the ongoing court cases involving several politicians as well as issues affecting his constituents.
"I am satisfied with the prime minister's explanation of the ongoing court cases.
"I also asked the prime minister to assist the farmers in my constituency amid the Covid-19 pandemic," he added.
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he would leave it to PKR to resolve its internal matter and to take the necessary action against those who act against the party's interest.
"By and large, the Penang Pakatan Harapan government still has a strong majority. We will continue to work with this strong mandate given by the people to us.
"Whatever is happening (the meeting between the PKR and Bersatu leaders and the prime minister) will not affect our oneness and stability of the state administration," he added.
Bakhtiar, in a statement issued this afternoon, said the state PKR has taken note of Dr Afif's action, and his intention to seat with Bersatu in the coming state legislative assembly sitting.
"He (Dr Afif) had been dropped as the state executive councillor and struck off his right as a Pakatan Harapan state assemblyman after his sacking from PKR.
"As for Zulkifli, the party's disciplinary board has rece
ived a report and proof which clearly showed he was in cohort with those who betrayed the party and the people's mandate.
"All these actions only show they are spiteful and irresponsible for their own interest, putting behind the real struggle," Bakhtiar added.
Besides, he said, Zulkifli's meeting with Dr Afif and other opposition assemblymen was with the intention to challenge the stability and the credibility of Penang Pakatan Harapan.
"They are now enjoying positions in the Perikatan Nasional government's government-linked companies (GLCs).
"The climax of their betrayal is seen when they met with the prime minister and expressed their support towards Perikatan Nasional -- all clearly against the party struggle and people's mandate -- while enjoying their respective seats as elected representatives.
"For Penang PKR, we are committed in efforts to strengthen the people's welfare agenda. We will continue to defend those marginalised through closer collaboration with the current state government," he said.