PETALING JAYA: Former Federal Territory Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said yesterday he had sent a letter to PKR leadership saying he would quit the party effective Dec 16.
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim
He also spoke of the possibility of forming a new party and contesting in the 13th general election.
Speaking at a news conference at his residence here, Zaid said he made the decision to leave PKR due to pressure from the party’s leadership including its advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he said had resorted to attacking him personally.
“I am being subjected to accusations, and slandered by the party’s senior leaders, with the aim of portraying me as a traitor to the party.
“For instance Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR secretary-general) accused me of planning to form a new party long before the party elections started.
“Dr Syed Husin Ali (deputy president) and Mohamed Azmin Ali (vice-president) spoke about how bad a person I am, accusing me of trying to undermine the party ever since I joined it. They said that I did not contribute much and accused me of being disloyal to the party.
“Anwar Ibrahim himself said I was the Trojan horse and a sore loser. So, it is a bit difficult for me to remain in a party where its senior leaders see me as a bad person. So, it is better for me to quit this party,” he said.
Zaid said he harboured no bad intentions against the party.
“I joined PKR along with my children and became a life-time member, paid the high fee, because at that time I thought that this was the party which fought for the truth, which practised transparency; a new hope for the people.
“I’m truly disappointed by the accusations. I have not formed a new party nor had I plan anything prior to this. I am a PKR coordinator although Anwar said I was never a coordinator. No problem … coordinator or clerk, it’s okay.”
Zaid also said that attempts by PKR leaders to disparage him would not achieve success because there were still people who believed in what he fought for.
On the new party, he said it would be set up ahead of the next general election.
“After this, I plan to see my supporters nationwide. If we have the resources and support, we will form the new party…I want it to be a party that is democratic, less problematic and one that truly represents the people’s interests,” he said, adding that more people might leave PKR after this.
Zaid said he would also contest in the next general election but declined to say which constituency.
If he was not able to form the new party in time for the election, he said, he would contest as an independent candidate. Nevertheless, he said, it would be much better if he had a party to represent, saying, “Politics cannot be lonely business.” — Bernama