The MACC should charge former PKR members Zakaria Abdul Hamid and Ismail Duhladi if there is evidence of their involvement in graft, said Patriot.
The National Patriots Association (Patriot) has urged the Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to charge two PKR members who were recently sacked by the party if it has strong evidence against them.
“This is the new Malaysia and the people have no tolerance for corruption,” the president of the ex-servicemen’s group, Arshad Raji, said in a statement.
PKR recently sacked central committee member Zakaria and ordinary member Ismail after the anti-graft agency suggested for action to be taken against them.
The allegation against Zakaria involved a RM20,000 public works contract to PKR leaders in the Bera area, while the allegation against Ismail involved “marked-up prices” for a project in 2018, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had told reporters.
MACC has since admitted that a letter recommending disciplinary action had been mistakenly sent to PKR, adding that it was not its responsibility to advise political parties.
But Arshad said the duo’s case was now not just an internal party matter but also of public interest.
“PKR is part of the ruling coalition, and this issue is of serious concern to the public.
“It calls into question the integrity of political leaders.”
He said that the move by 20 PKR central committee members to submit a memorandum against Zakaria and Ismail’s recent sacking has grabbed the people’s attention.
“It is of public interest why the 20 PKR supreme council members, among whom are three Cabinet members, are so adamantly defended the two members.”
The group, that also included vice presidents Zuraida Kamaruddin, went on to press PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to apologise over the matter, saying the decision was not formally endorsed by two thirds of the committee.
Arshad said that if the alleged graft, which happened during the first year of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, was true, then it was “very shameful”.
The episode, he said, served as a warning to all PH parties that the people cannot tolerate any form of corruption, even for small amounts and involving small projects.
“PH parties must keep their political leaders at all levels in check,” he added.