William Leong says he will remain a member of the party but will not defend his parliamentary seat in GE14.
KUALA LUMPUR: Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen has quit the PKR political bureau after the party leadership said it will continue to try and work together with PAS to prevent three-cornered fights.
“I disagree with this, for two reasons. Firstly, PAS has declared that they are working with Umno, and if we are going to work with them, it is as good as handing over our seats to Umno.
“Secondly, the ideological differences are too great a risk. Initially, they spoke about a welfare state. Now, they have gone back to their original position of introducing hudud and an Islamic theocratic state,” Leong told FMT.
Leong tendered his resignation on Monday.
However, despite quitting the bureau, Leong said he would remain a PKR member so as not to become an independent MP for the Selayang constituency.
However, in light of the current situation, Leong said he would not be defending his seat in the next general election (GE14).
“I have told the party leadership that I am not offering myself as a candidate,” he said, adding that his actions should not be seen as him threatening the party.
“If they change their minds (about courting PAS), that is all well and good.”
Last week, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she has not ruled out discussing seat allocations with PAS for GE14.
Wan Azizah, who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) president, stressed that the main objective was to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“If there is anything that can help us achieve that, we will give it a try,” she was reported as saying.
PAS is not a part of PH, which comprises PKR, DAP, PPBM and Amanah.
In May, PAS cut ties with PKR, ending almost two decades of cooperation with the multiracial party, after accusing the latter of breaching terms of their political alliance.
However, PKR is leaving the door open for PAS to work together in the upcoming general election.
PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali had recently said although PAS was not a member of the four-party PH, PKR was always open to discussing options to avoid three-cornered battles in GE14.