|
By G. Manimaran & Wani Muthiah, The Star Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam is standing firm on his decision to leave PKR.
He expressed disappointment with two Pakatan Rakyat leaders yesterday, saying the statements by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who is also Selangor PKR chairman, and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, showed that they were not problem-solving political leaders. However, he added that PKR supreme council member N. Gobalakrishnan had sent him an SMS, urging him to reconsider his decision. “I am disappointed with their statements, they should not have issued such statements,” he said, adding that Khalid behaved like “a corporate figure, not a politician”. Khalid had stressed that Manikavasagam was mature enough to make a “good decision” as he represented more than 100,000 voters. Khalid had also said: “It would be better to meet with the party’s leaders. If he wants to meet, that is up to him. It is his decision.” Hadi had said that Manikavasagam should also step down as an MP if he decided to leave the party. In Klang, representatives from several non-governmental organisations that had campaigned for Manikavasagam during the March general election expressed disappointment with his antics. “It is not right for him to quit PKR as it would reduce the number of Pakatan Rakyat seats in Parliament,” said Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George. He said Manikavasagam should seek ways to solve the issue instead of constantly throwing tantrums. “He must not disappoint all those who believed in him and had gone all out to campaign for him,” said Gunaraj. Malaysian Indian Development Association pro-tem chairman L. Segaran said although Manikavasagam’s intentions were noble, it was clear that he was unsure of what to do. Segaran, who is also a Klang Municipal Council councillor, said threatening to quit the party is not the right move. PKR state assemblyman for Kota Anggerik and state exco member Yaakob Sapari said any differences could be settled through discussion. “Manikavasagam could come and meet the exco during the exco meeting and talk things out as well as voice his dissatisfaction,” said Yaakob. Meanwhile, Manikavasagam will meet Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P. Waythamoorthy, who is in self-exile, in Chennai, India during the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Indian Diaspora) conference next month. Former Hindraf national event coordinator Kannan Ramasamy confirmed that the duo would meet in Chennai.
 |
The Blogs 
