“We’ve heard his version of what happened, but the matter is still not over, so I would not be comfortable commenting further.”
PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, on the party’s inaction against Kulim-Bandar Baru Member of Parliament (MP) Zulkifli Noordin.
Syed Husin pointed to approaching Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations and Zulkifli’s pilgrimage to Mecca as reasons for the delay in taking action against Zulkifli for disrupting a Bar Council forum. (Source: Still no verdict for Zulkifli Noordin, The Nut Graph, 30 Sept 2008)
On 9 Aug 2008, Zulkifli took part in a demonstration against the forum, Conversion to Islam: Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini and Shamala Revisited. The rowdy protest caused the forum to end prematurely. Zulkifli denied storming into proceedings. PKR served him with a show cause letter on 7 Sept 2008.
“It is a long process; next month is not too long, just a few days away…We will try [to finish] as soon as possible.”
Syed Husin, who also leads PKR’s disciplinary committee, explaining that a decision on Zulkifli was taking a while because his team had to follow party procedures. (Source: PKR: Action against Zulkifli Nordin in November, The Nut Graph, 29 Oct 2008)
Zulkifli’s actions at the Bar Council forum have been seen as a contradiction to PKR’s commitment to religious tolerance and multiculturalism. The MP has said that he participated in the protest as an Islamic Defence Lawyers Association representative, not as a PKR MP.
“Anwar has asked for more time so that he can meet Zulkifli.”
Syed Husin yet again. He revealed that PKR’s disciplinary committee had concluded investigations, but declined to reveal its findings. Zulkifli’s case was now up to the party’s political bureau, which is headed by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. (Source: PKR political bureau to decide on Zulkifli Nordin case, The Nut Graph, 1 Dec 2008)
In contrast with the amount of time PKR was taking over the Zulkifli case, Umno suspended its Bukit Bendera chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail on 10 Sept 2008, following his incendiary remarks against the Chinese Malaysian community a month earlier in August 2008.
“The matter was settled internally some time last year.”
Syed Husin, responding to queries as to what PKR’s verdict was on Zulkifli. Syed Husin declined to elaborate on how the issue was settled, and said the matter should be put to rest as it had been resolved. (Source: Zulkifli’s case settled, The Star, 6 March 2009)
MCA special task bureau chief Simon Lim expressed disappointment with Syed Husin’s reported response, saying that PKR “has an obligation to inform the public of the decision and action taken against Zulkifli”, and “should not sweep it under the carpet.”
empyreal says
Look on the bright side: we won’t be bothered with all the political news on TV if they come into power and one of their boys were naughty. They’d just settle it internally and I can watch my cartoons.
Yay.
carboncopy says
Disappointing, and that is the least of how I feel about the whole episode.
PKR is the next Umno!
tengku mohd faizal says
All these jokers, (BN/PR), should settle any “misquotes” and “mishaps” internally so that we all can watch cartoons without getting bogged down with all the nonsensical political news. But then again, how many of us can agree with this?
Tshiung Han See says
“Zulkifli’s actions at the Bar Council forum have been seen as a contradiction to PKR’s commitment to religious tolerance and multiculturalism.”
And PKR’s actions can be seen to contradict the party’s commitment to transparency. As in the case of Perak, the time it took for the MPs to make a statement about why they defected casts more doubt on the legality of their actions. The press should make more out of it.
This summary of quotes was really helpful for me, by the way.
Han