SIBU: Women PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin called on the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to review the issue of membership at the party’s Julau branch and discontinue to be plagued by the “denial syndrome”.
When speaking to reporters at a press conference held in Sibu on Sunday night, Zuraida wanted the party leadership to have the courage in their decision regarding the sudden, steep increase in membership number at the branch.
The Julau PKR branch came into the spotlight when its membership rose from 603 to 13,000 in a single day on June 27.
It is understood that a report was lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the matter last week.
On Saturday, a team of MACC officers were said to have gone to Julau Member of Parliament Larry Sng’s service centre to seek documents to facilitate investigations into the matter.
Zuraida, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, when met by reporters after a working visit to several longhouses in the Kanowit area, said that various complaints had been received about Julau as there were claims that the branch leadership did not follow the proper process in registering new members and there were doubts about some of these new members.
She explained that the allegation of phantom members was a serious matter as people who did not join the division had been making police report.
“If there were one or two cases (complaints), it would be acceptable as the mistakes could have been made. But there are complaints received from many people. This is something I would call a scandal, or even an organised syndicate,” Zuraida said.
She then said that the party election for Julau Division will proceed unless there is a serious breach in its members’ registration.
As of now, she said there was no reason why the poll on Nov 10, which included other divisions statewide, should be postponed.
“As far as I know, there is clear evidence shown. So the party leadership needs to make a decision. But if they don’t, and they decide that the party election in Julau needs to go on, then of course we are prepared to face it.
“We will see what the leadership’s decision is, whether to postpone or carry on. And they have to be ready to face the consequences. I hope there will be a meeting at central level to discuss this issue,” she said.
She said the issue has been brought up several times to the central party leadership but there has been no decision.
Thus, she hoped that something is done as this is for the good of the party.
“A wise and fair decision needs to be made,” she added.
