Ex-MP duo to return from Bersatu to PKR?

Former Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamarudin Jaffar and former Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman, who currently belong to Bersatu, are anticipated to return to PKR following a directive by its president Anwar Ibrahim. According to a source, Kamarudin, a former deputy foreign minister, is eyeing a spot in PKR's Cheras division, and the federal territories PKR chapter has expressed no concerns about his potential admission.

Anwar Ibrahim has called for party veterans to rejoin PKR, and FMT understands that Mansor is also contemplating a return, having reached out to Kamarudin for his thoughts. Kamarudin, who has discussed the matter with acquaintances within PKR, aims to ensure stability and preserve national interests. He has not yet submitted an official application but stated that if discussions yield positive outcomes, he will rejoin PKR.

Kamarudin formally joined PKR from PAS in 2015 and had previously been part of Umno under Anwar's tenure in the Barisan Nasional. Mansor, on the other hand, served as Anwar's political secretary in the 1990s and briefly held the position of PKR vice-president. Both Kamarudin and Mansor were among 11 MP defectors who abandoned PKR during the Sheraton Move in 2020, which contributed to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government.

Since then, former PKR vice-presidents Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jayakumar have rejoined the party in response to Anwar's appeal. The presence of these individuals has bolstered PKR's standing, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. While Federal Territories PKR chief Azman Abidin has not ruled out Kamarudin's potential return, he has refrained from providing further details.