Behrang rep Jamaluddin quits PKR - Star

Feb 3, 2009 BY SAODAH ELIAS

IPOH: Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi has quit PKR, saying he would not be joining any other political party and would remain an independent member of the Perak Legislative Assembly.

He said there was not much point of him staying on as member of a party which had shown such “scant disregard” for his rights as member.

“I sent the (resignation) letter to the Perak PKR office here through an aide today (Tuesday). I am not sure whether it has received the letter,” he said.

He said he was not sure whether his party colleague, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, would do the same.

Jamaluddin said the move by the state PKR leaders to hand over his undated resignation letter as assemblyman -- signed in March last year “under duresss” he claims -- without his consent was the last straw.

“The distrust shown by the state party leadership towards me has made it impossible for me to remain in the party,” he said.

Commenting on Election Commission’s decision that he and Mohd Osman were still members of the Perak Legislative Assembly, Jamaluddin said he respected the Commission’s stand and urged others to do the same.

He said once a decision had been made, it should be respected.

“Those who are clamouring for a by-election should now concentrate on serving the people,” he said.

Jamaluddin also said that he was feeling much better after undergoing traditional treatment for his back problem.

Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman had created a furore after they disappeared for days, fuelling speculation that they would be quitting the party to join political rivals Umno. They both now say they had both been unwell and seeking medical treatment.

With Jamaluddin’s resignation confirmed, the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak now controls 31 seats compared with Barisan Nasional’s 27.