Sacked duo can appeal, says PKR

Party stands by dismissal despite maCC’s admission it erred in its recommendation

KUALA LUMPUR: Contents in the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC)’s letter were deemed by PKR as undisputed as well as supported by evidence of abuse of power and bribery, said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It triggered the decision by PKR to take action against its former Bera division chief Zakaria Abd Hamid and Pahang member Ismail Dulhadi, he added.

“This is serious. If we take for granted the technical issues, it will be difficult.

“Nevertheless, they must be given space to appeal (against the sacking decision) or the disciplinary board to take a look again,” Anwar told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Anwar added that when PKR leaders had a look at the MACC letter during a party meeting, there was a unanimous decision to sack Zakaria and Ismail.

“So, there was unanimity (to sack the two) because we read and realised that the MACC had conducted a detailed investigation, called up the officers, staff members and other party members, and then given the following recommendations,” he said.

“I also asked for the letter from the disciplinary board chairman because I myself wasn’t confident that the issue was so serious.

“So I read, and acknowledged that action should be taken and then it will be reported to the MACC,” said Anwar.

In Kuantan, Zakaria continued to insist he was never summoned to give an explanation on his alleged corruption issue.

He added that before his sacking was made known on Sunday, he had not been notified of the party’s decision.

“I did not attend the meeting on Sunday because I was abroad due to work and I had notified the party secretariat of my absence,” he said in a text message.

Asked about his next move, Zakaria said he would wait for an official letter from the party headquarters before making his decision.

On whether the sacking was politically motivated, Zakaria said he would reserve his comments for the moment.

Zakaria and Ismail were sacked from the party on suspicion of corruption.

PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim recently said they received a letter from the MACC dated Oct 23 on the allegations, which were said to have happened during last year’s party elections.

The sacking of the two had since drawn criticism from PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Zuraida Kamaruddin and several leaders aligned with party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

This sacking episode is seen as yet another reflection of the bad blood between Team Anwar and Team Azmin.

PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil said that the sacking decision stands despite the admission of a procedural mistake by the MACC.

“The party does not view that mistake has any effect on the content of the report as the letter (from the MACC) was sent together with the report.

“For us, the content of the report and recommendations are still usable and the party must be firm against bribery and corruption,” he said.

“It is not a problem for us to use the report as a basis for action.”

Although he said that the party would not review its decision to sack the duo, they still had the right of appeal under the party’s constitution.

“At the moment, neither the party or party president have received any notice of appeal from those sacked,” he said.