PETALING JAYA: Former Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (pic) has quit the party.

Zahrain's resignation this morning slightly more than two weeks after he had lambasted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as "a dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded" came amidst talks that some PKR leaders would resign following frustrations with the party and its PR allies.

At a Press conference at Hotel Singgahsana here, Zahrain, a one-time ally of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Guan Eng's methods of politics reeked of "communism and narrow- minded racialism".

"I have known Anwar personally for more than 30 years. But of late, I have doubts on PKR's struggles," he said.

"Lim Guan Eng’s way of politicking has proven (his) communism thinking, narrow-minded racialism."

Zahrain claimed that as a result, the interests of Muslim Malays are being compromised.

"I’ve done everything I can but all my objections and criticism ended up being lambasted. The principles of Keadilan are merely rhetoric."

Zahrain, who announced his resignation at approximately 11.15am, said: "I resign from all party posts. This is my own choice. I did not discuss this decision with anyone, except my family and close friends. I have no intention of joining other parties. I have not spoken to any BN or Umno people. I am an independent. (see below for full statement)

"I don't want the people of Malaysia to have too high expectations of Pakatan Rakyat. With their arrogance, I don't believe they (PKR) will last. I don’t want the rakyat to be fooled by the rhetoric of Pakatan."

Zahrain said he would remain as Bayan Baru MP.

His resignation also came on the back of a statement by PKR Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin that he would not be surprised if many decided to leave PKR.

Zulkifli, who has been supporting Zahrain in his criticisms of Guan Eng and DAP, had said this in an interview on TV3 show Soal Jawab recently.

Speculation had been rife that Zahrain would leave the party after almost two weeks of tirade against Guan Eng.

His candid remarks had earned him the wrath of pro-Guan Eng leaders from PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. On the other hand, Zahrain had also received support from some PKR leaders who had claimed that DAP had also treated PKR as a "stepchild".

The feud reached its height when Zahrain had called for Guan Eng's resignation, and this was supported by PKR Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

Just like Zahrain, Tan had said that Guan Eng must be removed as the Penang chief minister as "he is a disgrace to the State and its people".

The PKR leader, who comes from a well-known family in Penang with strong grassroots support, had said that if Pakatan Rakyat was arrogant enough to ignore the grassroots’ sentiments for Lim to be removed, then the people should vote the "arrogant chief minister" out in the next elections.

"Lim Guan Eng is not fit to lead us in Penang. The people of Penang do not subscribe to his narrow, chauvinistic and divisive politics," he had said earlier this month.

"There are many other experienced local DAP leaders, and they are also humble and well-liked by the people in Penang. Most importantly, they are not arrogant or snobbish, and they don’t just pursue the interests of one single community or race.

"Many people in Penang are not happy with him. It is an open secret but I speak up for the people. He is being portrayed like a hero but without (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim's support, he is almost nothing.

"So, he should not treat us (PKR) like a dog in Penang. We have to beg him for everything. Lim has no class, no standard to be the chief minister and I for one don't agree with him. I think we in Penang don’t deserve such a leader."

Guan Eng had responded by saying that Zahrain could burn bridges with the Penang government if he chose to. He had said that it would be interesting to see who among the Penang leaders would come out in support of Zahrain.

Zahrain's resignation is good riddance, says PR leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim's recent exit from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was openly welcomed by Segambut MP, Lim Lip Eng.

Lim, throughout his term of being a MP, had observed Zahrain and he found out that he is not in line with the PR in various aspects.

"I have only two words to say about his resignation. Good riddance! I would not even wish him good luck on his future undertakings", said Lim.

Kepong MP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw, on the other hand, made a call to Zahrain to publicly publish what he had been doing for the past 10 to 20 years so that everyone could then decide for themselves what to make of him.

"Show us that you are as clean as you claim to be or dirty as hell," said Dr Tan.

He also said one should come to politics to serve people and not to serve oneself or for any sort of personal gains.

Earlier today, Zahrain had announced that that he had quit PKR to become an independent MP because he is frustrated with DAP and has lost confidence in Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

A local daily had reported that Zahrain claimed Lim had disregarded the principles of justice, human right and natural justice when he tried to sack him from the post of Island Golf Properties Sdn Bhd chairman.

Zahrain said that it was proof of Lim's chauvinistic, extremist, dictatorial and communist-minded attitude.

When commenting on Zahrain's resignation, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was disappointed with Zahrain's decision but Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he was not surprised by Zahrain's move.

Zahrain's official Press statement

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

YB DATO' SERI ZAHRAIN MOHAMED HASHIM

YANG BERHORMAT AHLI PARLIMEN BAYAN BARU

Tindakan kerajaan pimpinan YAB Lim Guan Eng membelakangkan prinsip-prinsip keadilan, hak asasi kemanusiaan dan keadilan semulajadi dalam usaha penyingkiran saya sebagai Pengerusi Island Golf Properties Sdn. Bhd. (IGP) baru-baru ini adalah bukti jelas amalan politik chauvinis, diktatorial dan berfikiran ala komunis.

Amalan YAB Lim Guan Eng dan konco-konconya, bukan sahaja bersikap angkuh dan tidak boleh menerima teguran dan kritikan, malahan mereka menyalahgunakan kuasa dan kedudukan mereka untuk kepentingan politik sempit dan agenda jahat mereka. Dan yang lebih memeranjatkan, setelah penyingkiran tersebut diketahui umum, YAB Lim Guan Eng telah bertindak mengarahkan butiran mesyuarat tersebut tidak direkodkan.

Inilah pemimpin yang kononnya ingin mahu menerapkan prinsip dan amalan CAT (Competency, Accountability & Transparency) dalam pentadbiran beliau.

Semasa saya dijemput oleh YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyertai Parti Keadilan Rakyat, saya meletakkan keyakinan dan kepercayaan bahawa perjuangannya untuk reformasi dan perubahan adalah ikhlas dan akan dilaksanakan dengan bertanggungjawab, bertamaddun, dan tanpa kompromi kepada agama, bangsa dan prinsip-prinsip keadilan.

Apatah lagi saya mengenali YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim secara peribadi lebih daripada 30 tahun.

Namun keyakinan dan kepercayaan saya hari ini terhakis dan diselubungi keraguan. Malahan keraguan itu telah mengatasi keyakinan saya terhadap matlamat dan cara perjuangan yang dibawa oleh PKR khasnya dan Pakatan Rakyat umumnya.

Mutakhir ini, cara politik sempit yang ditunjukkan oleh kepimpinan YAB Lim Guan Eng jelas membuktikan sikap chauvinis, ekstremis, diktatorial dan berfikiran ala komunis.

Slogan baru 'Middle-Malaysia", menggantikan slogan "Malaysian-Malaysia", yang dilaungkan jelas membuktikan agenda perkauman yang sempit yang dibawa oleh YAB Lim Guan Eng.

Nasib bangsa Melayu beragama Islam makin terpinggir dan makin teraniaya. Bukan sahaja golongan bawahan, penjaja, peniaga dan orang awam teraniaya dengan dasar chauvinis dan ekstremis yang dibawa; malahan kini institusi Islam saperti Pusat Zakat juga dipolitikkan untuk agenda sempit mereka.

Saya telah melakukan apa yang terdaya dalam kemampuan saya untuk mencegah kemungkaran besar yang sedang berlaku di peringkat kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat. Namun semua bantahan dan teguran saya diremehkan. Sebaliknya mereka bertindak menyingkir dan meminggirkan saya dengan tujuan untuk menghapuskan segala suara teguran dan kritikan dalam Pakatan Rakyat, tanpa menghormati hak asasi kemanusiaan, hak membela diri dan prinsip-prinsip keadilan yang mereka laung-laungkan selama ini. Ternyata laungan dan slogan mereka mengenai hak asasi dan prinsip keadilan hanyalah sekadar retorik politik murahan.

Saya tidak mahu sejarah menghukum saya kerana tidak berbuat apa-apa dalam keadaan ini. Saya tidak mahu generasi akan datang melihat saya sebagai sebahagian daripada gerombolan yang menjahanamkan dan merosakkan negara, bangsa dan agama saya.

Oleh itu, dengan lafaz Bismillah hirrohmanirrohim, saya dengan penuh ikhlas mengumumkan peletakan semua jawatan dalam parti dan keluar daripada Parti Keadilan Rakyat berkuatkuasa serta merta.

Bertarikh 12 Februari 2010

Yang ikhlas

........................................................................

YB Dato' Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim

Ahli Parlimen Bayan Baru

READ MORE: Pakatan Rakyat a fragile coalition, says Najib