Lee should have served out term despite PKR differences, says Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Pasar Malam MP Hassan Abdul Karim argued that Lee Chean Chung should have remained in his Petaling Jaya parliamentary seat until the end of his term, despite his disagreements with the PKR party or its president, Anwar Ibrahim. Hassan pointed out that Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein had continued serving his constituency even after being suspended from Umno.

Lee resigned from his Petaling Jaya seat on Friday after submitting his resignation letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, following PKR's three-year suspension. Lee contended that his suspension was tied to his vocal stance on public issues. Hassan emphasized that Lee's differences with PKR or Anwar should not cost the voters who elected him.

He questioned the betrayal of those voters by resigning. Hassan also warned that the resignations of Lee and three other former PKR MPs could hinder reforms requiring two-thirds majority support. These reforms include separating the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor roles and capping the prime minister's tenure at two terms or ten years.

Hassan believed Lee would now face difficulties defending his seat due to his decision. PKR vice-president Dr Zaliha Mustafa stressed that the party's focus should stay on serving the people, bolstering PKR, and fulfilling voters' mandate. She maintained that individual leader departures should not divert attention from the party's broader duties to the people.

Since May, four PKR MPs have left the party: former deputy president Rafizi Ramli, former vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Wong Chen, and Lee.