The Malaysian Insight

PKR has terminated the membership of central committee member Zakaria Abdul Hamid and Ismail Dulhadi over corruption and bribery in the party polls last year, said the party’s disciplinary committee chairman, Ahmad Kassim.

“They are sacked with immediate effect, today,” he told reporters at PKR’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

Zakaria is former political secretary to Works Minister Baru Bian.  

Ahmad said the decision was made after the party received a letter from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission dated October 23, this year.

“Evidence showed corruption was clearly involved,” PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said without elaborating.

Fahmi did not say whether the MACC will charge the duo, only that the party’s own investigations have concluded.

Ahmad said the termination letters will be issued today, but “they will likely learn about their sacking through the media”. 

A police report had been lodged last year against Zakaria for allegedly abusing his powers during the PKR election then.

PKR Youth coordinator Ahmad Syukri Che Ab Razab had, on September 25, lodged a complaint with the MACC accusing Zakaria of abusing his position as a public servant by promising to give contracts worth RM20,000 and allocations amounting to at least RM300,000 during a meeting with local leaders on September 1 in Pahang.  

Syukri had alleged that during the meeting, Baru’s political secretary had offered contracts for developing or repairing infrastructure worth RM20,000 to each local leader who was present.

Syukri had further claimed that the offer was also linked to the ongoing PKR polls.

He had handed over evidence in the form of a complaint report by the first complainant, pictures related to the meeting, voice recording files and other attachments.

Baru had called for a “thorough” investigation, saying it had implicated his ministry. 

“The process of law must take its course,” the Selangau MP had said in a press statement on the same day the police report was lodged. 

Zakaria, who is also Bera division chief in Pahang, has also been a constant critic of Anwar Ibrahim’s political aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, following allegations the latter had assaulted an individual.  

Ahmad said today: “Regarding the investigations by MACC last year, we will not be divulging the details because this is a confidential matter.”

“But based on the findings, there are strong grounds for us to take disciplinary action,” he said, while Fahmi added that the party’s central leadership council agreed with the disciplinary board’s proposal.

The Lembah Pantai MP added that it was the MACC’s prerogative to charge the duo. If they are acquitted, Fahmi said PKR’s constitution would allow them to appeal their termination to the president. – November 24, 2019.