Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email This just came in via Malaysiakini:
PKR sources have informed Malaysiakini that the party’s elected representative in Kedah V Arumugam has submitted his resignation, necessitating a by-election soon for the Bukit Selambau state seat.
It is leant that Arumugam had decided to throw in the towel following tremendous pressure on him and his family to defect to Barisan Nasional.
Arumugam,54, could not be contacted for confirmation but high level party sources said that the party would make the news official tomorrow.
It is learnt that Arumugam has submitted his resignation letter to the Kedah assembly speaker today and had gone overseas.
Arumugam’s resignation, if it is confirmed tomorrow by state officials, brings an end to weeks of speculation that he would be tempted or forced to join the BN.
Police report lodged
Early this month, Arumugan had lodged a police report claiming, among others, that there was an attempt to kidnap him.He also claimed that he and his officers have received numerous threats.
“All of this is being done in order to force me to leave PKR and move to Barisan Nasional,” he had said after lodging the police report.
He had said that apart from the threats, he was also approached with lucrative offers in order to coax him into leaving PKR.
Last week, talks of Arumugam leaving PKR heated up again, especially when he could not be contacted by anyone. His party colleagues then revealed that he was on leave.
Kedah – which was an Umno stronghold fell – into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat following the March 8 general election.
Arumugam was an independent candidate who joined the PKR after the general election. He was also a state executive councillor under the PAS-led Kedah government.
This serves to reinforce the notion that 3 defectors in Pakatan may have been bought over. More problem for BN. Again, another by-election with BN losing will reflect the lack of support in the bigger picture – takeover of Perak.
PB,
The reality of realpolitik is that the kataks are jumping for personal gains, either posts, power or money. It works both ways. Do you think PR was innocent when they went luring BN MPs ? Ppl’s impression is PR is rather poor. But that is not true. Anwar himself has considerable assets and also supported by a lot of businessmen cronies. There are also accusations that foreign intelligence agencies and civil society NGOs have been channelling money to him. The accusations is not without basic. I have written in some details about this funding sources and links to the intelligence agencies elsewhere.
I am not tuned into Kedah politics…though I do have well-placed sources in Penang, Perak and Selangor. I really think there is something wrong here. I very much doubt Arumugam is resigning for being under pressure. FYI he is an ex-air force officer not some ex-post man to crumble under stress. If it was the BN, I am sure PR and Mkini would have already told us the details.
OK, let me make a guess. Either he will soon face a major issue that will force to leave his post or he is just throwing tantrum ala Mike to get some posts or gains in wake of the Perak crisis. If he is under pressure by BN he will just turn Independent or join BN. But for someone who spoke to loudly about BN’s “dirty tactics”, I would hardly think he is crumbling under pressure. Could it be that the police investigation uncovered he was lying ?
PB
What a conincidence…I just read in Malaysia Insider that Arumugam is embroided in an adultery case and it has been complained to the Sultan of Kedah about this issue.
So this perhaps this lesson for PR supporters and sympathizers that what written in alternative media and also the spins by PR abt BN’s “evil plans” is not always true.
So this ADUN is in big trouble so he chose divert the issue by blaming BN by claiming millions of bribe been offered to him.
Ya, the news came out in TV3 news as well, but the ADUN name was not mentioned. The accusations by the public were quite serious. The EXCO was alleged to have brought the other woman to Sultan’s official function as well. I saw a group of people handing over report/memo to palace people.
Did they ? i missed the news today….but I read that he actually married the lady in a Hindu ceremony as a 2nd wife.
It is shocking that someone who served less than 1 year ADUN has become involved in such scandals. Imagine giving them a few terms.
This is I think a is a humiliation to the Indian community and not to mention a slap on PR’s face. There are so many scandals within less than a year, so are they really a better choice ? For all their idealisti talks, their actions are very different.
BTW, I don’t Aru resigned by forced to do so by Anwar and PR. I wonder how many more scandals we will see.