KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Two Parti Keadilan Rakyat MPs have denied allegations that they, along with nine others, have withdrawn their support for party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also serving as Prime Minister.
Keadilan vice-president Chang Lih Kang, who is also the Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister, described the allegations as ridiculous.
"Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s resignation from the Cabinet is out of decorum and in the spirit of democracy. Others need not sully the waters. That is all,” the Tanjung Malim MP posted on Facebook last night.
Rumours have swirled as a result of a viral screenshot on WhatsApp and on the Facebook of blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, popularly known as Papagomo, claiming that 11 Keadilan MPs have withdrawn their support for Anwar and will hold a media conference tomorrow about the matter.
He alleged that this included Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Chang, Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Subang MP Wong Chen, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar, and Port Dickson MP cum Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Meanwhile, Tan condemned the allegations on Facebook, describing them as malicious political slander.
"I strongly deny the allegations made by Muhammad Azri in an FB post. My stand and idealism in the struggle have not changed even with the recent party election results,” he said, adding that he had obtained advice from his lawyer and did not deny the possibility of taking legal action.
Rafizi and Nazmi announced their resignation as ministers effective June 17 and July 4, following their losses in the recent Keadilan party election, where Rafizi lost his deputy president’s post to Nurul Izzah Anwar and Nazmi failed in securing a vice-president’s post.
— Bernama
