CIJ & WAMI Media Statement:- Problematic licensing laws hampers distribution of new cartoon [ Magazine entitled ' Gedung Kartun' ]

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
27C Jalan Sarikei, off Jalan Pahang
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 4023 0772
Fax: 03 4023 0769

Press Statement
25 August 2009

Problematic licensing laws hampers distribution of new cartoon

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) are concerned about the confiscation of hundreds of copies of a cartoon magazines on current issues edited by prominent cartoonist, Zunar. The confiscation smacks of harassment and censorship of discussion of current issues.

On 25 August, officials from the Control of Publication Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs seized copies of the inaugural issues of Gedung Kartun (Cartoon Store) from the publisher's office in Kuala Lumpur.

According to the magazine Chief Editor Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar, more than 400 copies were seized. When contacted by CIJ, the Department's Assistant Secretary Abdul Razak Abdul Latif said the magazine was confiscated "primarily" due to the lack of a publication permit as well as for content "checking". He was unable to confirm the amount seized.

However, Zunar disputed the lack of permit as the reason and claimed that he had obtained the permit's serial number verbally. He said the officers insisted on confiscating the magazines despite informing them of the verbal permission. Zunar said he was then told to ask for an official letter regarding the status of the permit.

The permit requirement for publications is legislated under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and failing to meet the requirement can result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to RM20 000 (USD5700).

The confiscation is a form of harassment against those who publish alternative interpretations of current events. Zunar is a long time contributor to online news site Malaysiakini and is well-known for his political cartoons. Gedung Kartun, a bi-weekly slated for the market in September, features drawings that discuss the controversial death of the political assistant from opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office as well as one involving the Prime Minister Najib Razak. Zunar said the magazine is about alternative humour.

The action once again shows how the licensing regime is used arbitrarily to control expression. The employment of such law does not inspire confidence with the Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussien's announcement that the law will be reviewed to keep up with the demands of the people. To show that the Minister appreciates the people's criticism of the law, he should stop any further practices of harsh measures such as the arbitrary confiscation of publications.

CIJ and WAMI urge the Ministry to return copies of Gedung Kartun to its publisher so that it can be made available to the public. We also urge the Ministry to reveal what it's plan is for the supposed review of the PPPA and to include civil society in its consultations.

Ends

Issued by

Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director, CIJ

and Wong Chin Huat
Chairman, WAMI

For more information please contact Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772

CIJ & WAMI Media Statement: Pleased with the High Court's decision to allow a judicial review over the ban of a book published by Sisters-in-Islam

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
27C Jalan Sarikei, off Jalan Pahang
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 4023 0772
Fax: 03 4023 0769

26 August 2009

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) are pleased with the High Court's decision to allow a judicial review over the ban of a book published by Sisters-in-Islam (SIS).

CIJ and WAMI believe that the court's decision is an important step in upholding the constitutional guarantee for freedom of expression. According to a Bernama report, in making the decision, Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said he was satisfied that SIS's application raised important issues related to fundamental liberties, state jurisdiction and Malaysia's obligation to international human rights standards.

SIS's book Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism was banned by the Home Ministry on 31 July 2008, under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA), on the basis that the book was "prejudicial to public order". SIS was neither informed before nor after the gazetting of the ban and its members knew about it from the media.

CIJ and SIS's attempts to get a better picture of the process of book banning, including meetings with the Ministry, have so far been largely futile. It seems that the Ministry is either reluctant to reveal or unable to explain its interpretations of the broad guidelines for publications, as well as to be open about who is enforcing the bans.

While the new Home Minister, Hishamuddin Hussein promises to review laws deemed "obsolete", including the PPPA, there is no accompanying measures to halt the non-transparent practices enabled by the law. According to news reports, the ministry has banned 22 books this year, making the total of banned books to 397 in the past nine years. Some of the titles published by the media include potentially pornographic materials as well as interfaith and Islamic titles.

Banning books is a restriction of ideas and expression. The government must stop disallowing Malaysians to decide for themselves whether a book is good for them. The current practice of arbitrary banning, where publishers and writers are not consulted, aggravates the violation of free speech and paints an authoritarian image on the government's side. CIJ, which highlighted this in its recent submission to SUHAKAM, calls for the practice of book banning to be stopped.

Issued by Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director,
CIJ

and

Wong Chin Huat,
Chairman,
WAMI

For more information please contact Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772.

The odd occassion when a victim of wrong-doings of a RELA member gets some compensation. And the government is vicariously liable and pays RM100,000.

RELA - that volunteer corp that many in Malaysia wants to be abolished, has again embarrassed Malaysia, and now has cost the rakyat's money [people's money] to be unnecessarily expended.

RM100,000-00 - why because a RELA member took a picture of women relieving herself in a lorry.

All these new media reports trying to improve the image of the RELA will not work. Just abolish this RELA. See Malaysian Bar Resolution calling for the abolition of the Rela. See also all earlier posts on RELA, and RELA raid - 1 Dead...1 seriously injured. Abolish RELA.

In the case of this women, she filed a case....but alas many others who have been victimized, injured and killed by wrong actions of RELA never will get any compensation...let alone justice.

The government has to pay RM100,000 in damages to a former guest relations officer as it was vicariously liable for the act of a Rela member who took a picture of her relieving herself in a lorry.

In allowing the appeal by Maslinda Ishak, the Court of Appeal yesterday said the respondents -- the director-general of Rela, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department's (Jawi) enforcement officers and the government -- were jointly and severally liable.

On Sept 11 last year, the High Court ordered Mohamad Tahir Osman to pay Maslinda RM100,000 for his conduct in taking the picture six years ago.

Judge Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said what Tahir did was outside the scope of his duty and he did it purely on his own accord.

Therefore, he was wholly responsible for his action on Maslinda, 32, now a dental nurse, which had injured her emotionally.

The incident happened after Maslinda and several colleagues were arrested by Jawi enforcement officers and Rela members during a raid at Kelab De Vegas, Jalan Imbi, here about 11.30pm on March 21, 2003.

After the arrest, they were led into a lorry. At 12.50am, when the vehicle was in Jalan Jejaka 5, Taman Maluri, Cheras, Maslinda asked to go to the toilet but her request was denied.

Instead, Maslinda was told to relieve herself inside the lorry.

She did exactly that, shielded by a scarf held by her friends, but Tahir then came, pushed her friends away and took her photograph with his camera.

Maslinda brought a RM5 million suit in damages against Tahir, the Rela director-general, Jawi and government.

Tengku Maimun ruled that the Rela director-general, Jawi and the Federal Government could not be associated with Tahir's action.

Maslinda appealed on ground that the other three were also equally liable to pay damages.

Lawyer Karpal Singh, who was assisted by Sangeet Kaur Deo, told the Court of Appeal that Tahir's act was done in the course of employment and the three respondents were equally liable.

He said Tahir did not appeal against the High Court order, that he was "a man of straw" and Maslinda could not get any compensation from him.

"Tahir had also pleaded guilty for invasion of privacy and was sentenced to four months' jail in a magistrate's court," he said.

Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh said what was done by Tahir was a frolic of his own.

"He was not authorised by the three respondents. So the government cannot be held liable," he said.

Judges Datuk Suriyadi Halim Omar, Datuk Feffey Tan Kok Hwa and Datuk Sulaiman Daud heard the appeal and made the unanimous ruling.

Karpal later said he would enforce the judgment on the government since the respondents were all from federal agencies. - New Strait Times, 25/8/2009, Ex-GRO gets RM100,000 for Rela man's frolic

JOINT ACTION GROUP FOR GENDER EQUALITY (JAG) Press Statement (24/8/2009) :- JUSTICE FOR WOMEN

JOINT ACTION GROUP FOR GENDER EQUALITY (JAG)

Press Statement

JUSTICE FOR WOMEN

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) welcomes the celebration of the national Women’s Day on 25 August 2009, and Independence Day on 31 August 2009.

The celebrations this year is bittersweet. JAG was galvanized over the past few weeks in dealing with a seemingly intractable issue: violence against women. In this instance, it was the state sanctioned violence against Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno. Kartika pleaded guilty to a charge of drinking alcohol – an offence under the Syariah law in Pahang. In an effort to deter other Muslims from drinking, the Syariah Court ordered the maximum sentences to be meted out: RM5,000 fine and 6 lashes of the whip. However, on 24 August 2009, Kartika’s sentence was stayed for reasons which are still not clear.

JAG does not support whipping for women or men. It violates a person’s human rights to be free from cruel, inhumane, degrading treatment or punishment, and it has not worked as deterrent.

JAG is especially concerned that it is not apparent that general principles of sentencing were applied in Kartika’s case: she was a first time offender, she showed remorse and pleaded guilty, and there was no violence in the commission of the offence. Her sentences were completely disproportionate to the offence committed.

Kartika’s case also illustrates how Muslim women are discriminated, contrary to the constitutional guarantee in Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution against discrimination on the grounds of religion and gender. Whipping of women is allowed under Syariah criminal offences but is disallowed by civil law under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

JAG has repeatedly lobbied the Government to legislate against discrimination and to make the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which it ratified in 1995, into domestic law. However, the Government has failed women on both counts.

JAG urges the Government to ‘Kotakan Kata’ – to fulfill their elections promises and legal obligations under CEDAW. The Government must legislate against discrimination: justice for Malaysian women requires nothing less.

24 August 2009.

Maria Chin Abdullah

Executive Director

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

for and on behalf of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality which comprise:

1. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

2. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

3. Sisters In Islam (SIS)

4. All Women Action Society (AWAM)

5. Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC)

An end of some discrimination againt the Sabah & Sarawak by the UMNO-led BN government after almost 40+ years..

Oh how Sabah and Sarawak have been discriminated for so long...by the UMNO-led BN government.

Najib has ended this discrimination with regard to now providing for Federal Grants to be given to Local Councils in Sabah and Sarawak..

How else have the people of Sabah and Sarawak been discriminated by Kuala Lumpur? Tell us..

And, now when the UMNO-led BN is shaky, and may lose to the Pakatan Rakyat come next election, there suddenly is a rush to 'buy' Sabah and Sarawak. A rush to remedy the wrongs done to them all these years by an UMNO-led BN government. Recently, I also saw that finally there is push to get roads build in Sabah and Sarawak. Maybe, they also deserve to have a rail link from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu...

And another question that comes to mind, is how much have been given to the Local Councils in Semenanjung Malaysia. Which local councils got the money and how much did they get? Did all local councils in Semenanjung get equal treatment or not? A MP can maybe ask these questions in Parliament and get us the answers.

Local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak will be given grants beginning next year to help them boost their services to the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the move would cost the Government an additional RM62.8mil annually.

He added that prior to this, only local authorities in the peninsular were given federal government grants.

Local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak receives financial assistance from their respective state governments.

“We hope this will enhance services provided by local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak and the people can enjoy better facilities and services,” he said after chairing the National Finance Council meeting on Tuesday - Star, 25/8/2009, Grants for local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak

I also wonder why Federal Government is giving grants directly to Local Authorities? Should not the money be given directly to the State governments, for them to hand over to the Local Councils?

Malaysian Bar Press Release: Abolish whipping for any offence

The Malaysian Bar is heartened to note that the authorities have apparently decided not to proceed with the sentence of whipping in Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s case.

As recently as at its 61st Annual General Meeting held on 17 March 2007, the Malaysian Bar resolved to denounce and reject whipping as a punishment for any offence as it is anachronistic and inconsistent with a compassionate society. Our position echoes international human rights norms that condemn whipping and other forms of corporal punishment as cruel, inhuman or degrading and call for its abolition. Moreover, there is empirical evidence to support the fact that whipping has failed as a retributory and deterrent sentence.

In Kartika’s specific case, there are additional compelling reasons to overturn the sentence, as there is serious doubt over the legality and propriety of the Kuantan Syariah High Court’s imposition of a supplementary sentence of imprisonment simply for the punishment of whipping to be carried out.

Under Malaysian civil law, the whipping of women is prohibited. The whipping of men in certain categories of age and health is also prohibited. The Government has committed itself to prevent the whipping of children under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These are positive first steps in the journey towards a total prohibition against whipping as a form of punishment for all persons, regardless of age or gender, and whether under civil or Syariah law.

We call on the authorities to overturn the sentence of whipping handed down in Kartika’s case and the cases of those who were arrested with her. We strongly urge the Government to reject whipping as a form of sentencing for any offence, and to abolish it altogether.

Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

24 August 2009

Is Chua Jui Meng still caught up with his fight with Ong Tee Keat for the leadership of MCA?

Chua Jui Meng - I read with amusement that one media report described this man as now being a 'PKR leader'...

PKR leader Chua Jui Meng is baffled by Umno's by-stander attitude in not rising to the defence of embattled Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.- Malaysiakini, 24/8/2009, Chua: It's baffling Umno not defending Ong

And, slightly more than a month ago, he was reported saying that he had no intention of leaving MCA...

When asked about joining PKR, he said he had been linked with such rumours for several years and claimed he was once approached by an opposition party.

However, he said he had no intention of leaving the MCA and would continue to fight for reforms within the party as stated in his election manifesto when he contested the MCA presidency in the party polls last year. - Star, 16/7/2009, Chua Jui Meng quits as Bakri MCA chief

And a day or so after that, he did join the PKR...let's now talk about honesty, integrity, etc...Or maybe not, for the important thing is that he has come over to PKR and the Pakatan Rakyat....

What about his people? Did they also follow him, quit MCA and join PKR? I have come across no such reports...[Remeber, this man stood for the Presidency of MCA in 2008, and lost "President: Ong Tee Keat won 1,429 votes vs Chua Jui Meng 917 votes"] Did his followers come over to PKR with him?

Anyway, looking at the recent Malaysiakini report, I believe that Chua Jui Meng has gotten over the fact that he is no more in MCA and the BN. He still seems to be hitting out at the person of Ong Tee Keat, the man who beat him at the last MCA elections... Remember, that the political battle that rages on in our country is a battle between MCA included BN and the Pakatan Rakyat. Thus, whether other BN leaders are supporting an embattled BN leader should not be an issue. The failure is BN's failure...full stop - not just the person named Ong Tee Keat, for if that is the case, then a resignation of Ong Tee Keat is all that is needed to resolve BN of its failing in the PKFZ issue ...I do not think so. The blame lies on the BN government ...past and present...and the call must be for the resignation of the BN government.

PKR leader Chua Jui Meng is baffled by Umno's by-stander attitude in not rising to the defence of embattled Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.

Ong is facing attacks from within and outside his party MCA over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue.

Chua, the former health minister, finds Umno's absolute silence over the crisis rather strange, which he described as un-Barisan Nasional like.

'Umno dominates and controls BN'.

"All these years, Umno leaders have come out in the open to defend their under-attack colleagues from component parties.

"But Umno's silence in Ong's case is deafening," he said, adding that scandal had cause public anxiety because it involved enormous sums of public funds.

This is the reason why, he said Umno leaders, who form the core of federal government leadership, cannot be so quiet about it.

"The prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) did not defend his minister neither did the deputy premier (Muhyiddin Yassin).

"Did any other Umno minister defend Ong?

"The answer is no . . . not at all," Chua (left) said to newsmen after speaking at a dinner attended by some 2,000 people in Bukit Mertajam last night.

He said it was unprecedented for Umno leaders to just stand by and watch a defenceles Ong being subject to mounting attacks and pressure by his detractors over his handling of the Port Klang Free Zone scandal .

Punished for exposing truth

"Ong is the president of the second largest BN component party and no one from Umno is protecting him.

"I find it strange," said Chua, who lost is challenge for the MCA presidency to Ong in the party elections last October.

MCA president Ong is already facing a suit by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd's (KDSB) chief executive officer and Bintulu parliamentarian Tiong King Sing over his outspoken and transparent handling of the PKFZ issue.

The suit, filed on Friday at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, claimed that Ong, the Port Klang Authority and its chairman, Lee Hwa Beng, had overstepped their authority by publishing the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report on PKFZ.

Ong (right) said despite Tiong's wild claims against him, the probe into the PKFZ scandal would continue.

The minister has also said that MCA central committee had unanimously supported his decision to sue Tiong, who claimed he had given RM10 million to Ong last year for party activities.

The MCA boss is expected to file the law suit against Tiong, the BN Nasional Backbenchers Club Chairperson, today.

Ong is also under attack from his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek, who criticised his president for "dragging the party into a legal battle over his personal problem."

PKFZ, an integrated 400ha free commercial and industrial zone adjacent to Port Klang housing various facilities such as a warehouse, an office block and a four-star hotel, became embroiled in the controversy after it was revealed that the development cost had shot up from RM2.5 billion to RM4.6 billion.

The Port Klang Authority (PKA) had lodged a police report after a task force set up to investigate the controversy found billing discrepancies of between RM500 million and RM1 billion submitted by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, project turnkey contractor, and development contractor BTA Architects.

Chua complimented Ong for having the courage and determination to probe into PKFZ scandal despite being under pressure from various quarters.

"At least Ong is unafraid to expose the truth," he said.- Malaysiakini, 24/8/2009, Chua: It's baffling Umno not defending Ong

Now, tomorrow if Ong Tee Keat comes over and join the PKR...the day after, we will be calling him 'PKR leader'...or 'Pakatan Rakyat leader'.

I wonder if Ong Tee Keat were to quit as MCA President by reason of this PKFZ scandal or that other allegation about RM10 million, and there are calls within MCA for the return of Chua Jui Meng to take up the reigns of MCA...will Chua Jui Meng return to MCA...and the BN?

I wonder...we wonder...Has Chua Jui Meng really changed? Or is he just wearing a different uniform?

Why do they jump? Because there is little or no political future in MCA (or UMNO) anymore if they stay put in that party...and after all, if they jump to a party like PKR...they are instantaneously elevated to 'party leader'...and will most likely be getting a 'safe' seat to contest in the next elections...

This is the problem with politicians..., and we wonder who we can trust... Would just changing parties transform a person... suddenly make him a 'reformasi' person? Once you jump...it makes it all the more easier to jump again...and again...

GE's 'No Public Holiday' decision for people of Permatang Pasir to go out and vote...exercise their democratic rights is not very good.

Well, according to the Star report, there will be no public holiday for voters to go out and vote. That is why the Election Commission need to ensure that polling days fall on weekends or holidays.

I am a bit dissapointed with Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government with this decision - as it would definitely cause problem for many workers, who may want to go out an vote (or maybe even volunteer to be polling agents...counting agents...help in the transportation and other work for their candidates...). They may also need time to get their elderly parents to the polls..

During the economic crisis, when jobs are 'shaky' , many workers just do not want to do anything that may jeopardize their continuous employment in their company. Employers may be looking to retrench 10% and many just will not go vote to show that they are dedicated employees and should not be even considered by their employers in that group that may be retrenched... That is why a public holiday would have been good at this time.

What can Guan Eng and the Penang Government do if the employers do not allow their worker/s to go out and vote? What will Guan Eng and the Penang government do if the employer sacks the worker because he absents himself/herself as he went to vote? How are you going to encourage employers? The handling of the Kg Buah Pala issue clearly shows that the Penang Government does not even have much influence with their own state workers' cooperative (the 'alleged' owners)..or the Developer. That's why the only way one could have facilitated the full exercise of people's democratic rights come election day was by the declaration of a State public holiday.

There may be (or may be not) provisions in the law for the State Government to just declare it a public holiday for the registered voters in Permatang Pasir...

Maybe, absence from work for the purposes of exercising one's right to cast a vote...or to register oneself as a voter should be clearly stated as a justified reason for being absent from work, and this is something that the employer shall not use against the employee. It should be considered as paid leave (Proposals for the future).

Penang has decided not to declare tomorrow as a public holiday despite the fact it is polling for the Permatang Pasir state by-election.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng without specifying the reasons, said the state would encourage all employers to allow workers, who are registered in the Permatang Pasir constituency, to take the necessary time off to vote.

“Factory managements in the area, are also advised to change their production hours to allow their workers time to vote,” he said after accompanying Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to campaign in Kampung Paya. - Star, 24/8/2009, Tomorrow not a holiday, says Lim

Another 'shoot to kill' incident - 4 killed. Yahoo has this question now that need answers: Do you agree that Malaysian police tends to shoot to kill?

Another case of 'shoot to kill' - and 4 persons are shot dead...

Four Indonesian robbers were killed in a shoot out with police outside a quarry in Labu near here at 5.30am Monday.

All four aged between 25 and 40 had opened fire at police when a patrol car intercepted their vehicle forcing police to return fire. - Star, 24/8/2009, Four Indonesian robbers killed by police

See earlier post: Did the police try to arrest them...or did they just shoot to kill them? Extrajudicial killing must be condemned..

Note that what I am picking up are possibly just some of these incidents that get reported in media that caught my eye ... and the question that should be asked is how many people have been shot dead by the Malaysian police?

24/8/2009 - Star, 24/8/2009, Four Indonesian robbers killed by police

21/8/2009 - Star, 21/8/2009, Two robbers shot dead in Klang

11/8/2009 - - Star, 11/8/2009, Four wanted Indonesians killed by police

These are just some of the media reported 'extrajudicial killing' by the Malaysian police. How many people were really shot dead by the Malaysian police? Maybe some MP can ask these question in Parliament - as that seems the only way we can get answers in Malaysia.

It is really odd that we do not read many stories of people being shot and arrested...

The latest incident where 4 shot dead by what .... 2 police man in a patrol car...What was the patrol car doing there in the quarry? Was it really a police ambush? Questions...questions...

Guess what YAHOO has this question now, that people can give their opinion...

Do you agree that Malaysian police tends to shoot to kill?

PKR is the weakest link in the Pakatan Rakyat - now 1 PKR ADUN in Kedah has quit the party.

This is the problem with former BN people..... they just do not seem to be driven by principles and values...

For them, it is all about themselves....social mobility upwards...money...avoidance of criminal charges...etc.

PAS, DAP, PRM, PSM ....they are stronger in character...although DAP also lost 1 in Perak fight ...that Hee person.

Najib...the UMNO and the BN do not just use elections to win seats and political power ...all means are employed. They threaten people with criminal charges... They may even offer money...etc. But the blame lies with the Pakatan Rakyat ADUN or MP that 'crumbles' under these pressures.. Better for them just to resign ....and let the Rakyat choose another.

PKR is also doing the same as UMNO (and BN)...maybe even worse... They woo ex-BN people to jump over and straight away put them into the Supreme Council and project them as 'leaders' of PKR...PR...Reformasi... Zaid Ibrahim, Chua,... (Remember that UMNO ADUN in Perak that jumped over to PKR...and then in a few days jumped back to UMNO...taking along 2 PKR ADUNs and 1 DAP ADUN ...)

Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh who is also Kedah executive council member quit PKR citing loss of confidence in the party’s leadership.

He announced himself as an independent state assemblyman.

He, will however retain his Lunas seat as well as the state executive council post.-- Bernama - Star, 23/8/2009, Lunas rep quits as PKR member

Note that this ADUN has only left PKR...and not yet the Pakatan Rakyat. Maybe, he may join PAS or DAP...and just stay as an independent supporting PR...

We shall see...we shall see