Anwar Keeping Mum - Fairus Quit, Guan Eng Unaware & In Foul Mood

The Penang chief minister is slighted that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had kept mum about Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin’s resignation as Penanti assemblyman ,which he only found out today when quizzed by the media.

Apart from not informing Fairus’ resignation from the state seat, the de facto PKR leader had also been concealing the matter for some time as it is understood the resignation letter is dated March 19, a few days before Fairus sent a letter quitting as deputy chief minister I.

Lim Guan Eng, who is in Singapore on an investment promotion, only knew all this today when asked by the media and later informed of the letter by the state officials.

However, the DAP leader had hinted yesterday that Anwar might force a by-election to choose a new deputy chief minister over two other PKR Malay lawmakers in the Pakatan Rakyat government.

“Lim is in a foul mood now as he feels that he should have been informed about happenings in the state.”

The chief minister is not speaking to reporters about Fairus, telling them to refer to Anwar.

As late as last week, Anwar had said Fairus would remain as Penanti assemblyman until the next general elections.

Pakatan Rakyat sources said that Anwar was pressured by Fairus as the 33-year-old had been threatening to go public with party scandals unless PKR cleared his name within two weeks.

In an exclusive interview with Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau that was published today, Fairus said he had knowledge of government and party scandals and that was the reason PKR had not taken action against him.

He also expressed disappointment that his party did not stand by him unlike how they had for Bukit Lanjan state lawmaker Elizabeth Wong and former Bukit Selambau legislator V. Arumugam.

He however declined to elaborate and asked the media to be patient.

In a statement released by the PKR information bureau today, Fairus said he is quitting the Penanti seat in order to focus on clearing his name of allegations of being involved in illegal quarrying.

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) had wrapped up investigation against Fairus but have yet to press charges. The investigation documents are now with the commission's prosecution division.

Anwar was not immediately available for comment.

The first-term assemblyman’s resignation will lead to a by-election within 60 days in Penanti, which is under Anwar’s Permatang Pauh constituency in the mainland.

Source Malaysian Insider