Independent MPS feel more effective without party ties

ARKIB : 16/03/2010

KUALA LUMPUR March 15 — Two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members of Parliament who have turned independent feel that they can do their work more effectively now that they are no longer bound by any party trend.

Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said that now that he was no longer affiliated to any party, he was free to carry out his own agendas as long as they benefited the people.

This included supporting motions in the Dewn Rakyat which were advantageous to the people and opposing those that burdened them.

"For instance, I support the 1Malaysia concept to give Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak a chance to implement it to strengthen unity among the people but I don”t support the goods and services tax (GST),” he told reporters at the Paliament lobby today.

He also urged those who continued to pressure him to resign as MP to desist as he would continue with his service to the people.

Zahrain also suggested that a caucus of independent MPS be set up to strengthen their position and give them a common voice in the august house.

Meanwhile, Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin said his sacking from PKR gave him plenty of room to move independently.

"I feel more effective as an independent MP because I can now make decisions and stands without being bound by any party trend. I will support any motion that brings good for the people and Islam and object to those that run counter to this,” he said. Zahrain, Zulkifli and two other PKR MPs, Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai) had earlier declared themselves independent MPs, bringing the number so far to seven. 

The other three are Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Pasir Mas), Datuk Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Datuk Chua Soon Bui (Tawau).

—BERNAMA

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