The action is believed to be part of a continuous purge of Azmin’s supporters from the party following the Sheraton Move.
The PKR Central Executive Council (MPP) has confirmed the dismissal of five party leaders, including party women’s chief, Haniza Mohamed Talha.
The others are Penang women’s chief Nur Zarina Zakaria, Sabah women’s chief Rahimah Majid, and two Penang assemblyman – Dr Afif Bahardin of Seberang Jaya and Zulkifli Ibrahim of Sungai Acheh.
The action against these leaders are believed to be over their relationships with sacked PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is now part of the ruling Perikatan Nasional pact.
PKR’s disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim said the decision was approved during a PKR’s central leadership council meeting held yesterday following the board’s recommendation.
Meanwhile, Ahmad also said three leaders were issued warnings, including vice-president Chua Tian Chang or Tian Chua, Penang Wanita communications director Carolyn Khor, and Machap Jaya assemblyman Ginie Lim.
Another PKR leader, Ahmad Raj Abdullah, also had his membership suspended following his alleged involvement in the physical assault against Chua on March 1.
Chua was reportedly assaulted and hit on the head by angry members and supporters at the PKR headquarters after the Sheraton move.
Sources from within the party said that those expelled and warned had criticised the top leadership, and this was not acceptable.
In a political move in February, Azmin and eight other PKR MPs broke away to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and formed the Perikatan Nasional government under Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 1.
Since then, there has been a continuous purge of Azmin’s supporters from the party, accompanied by party leaders and members exiting stating their dissatisfaction with the top leadership.
On June 24, Afif confirmed with the New Straits Times that he had been informed of his dismissal from the party during the PKR political bureau meeting.
Afif had announced that he would be seated with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the coming Penang state legislative assembly sitting.
He was suspended from PKR in April pending an investigation by the party’s disciplinary board.
Yesterday, both Zulkifli and Haniza told Malaysiakini they did not receive official confirmation that they have been sacked.
“If it’s true, I did not expect they would do it without stating why,” Zulkilfi was quoted saying, adding that he would not file an appeal.
Haniza reportedly said she also did not receive an official notice, expressing her disappointment in how the party reached the decision to sack her.
“There was no hearing process. I, the accused, was not given a chance to give a statement and respond,” she reportedly said.
Last month PKR expelled 348 members and suspended another 285.
Among those sacked were grassroots leaders, including youth vice-chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus, women information chief Syarul Ema Abu Samah, Rembia assemblyman Muhammad Jailani Khamis, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and Sarawak PKR secretary Vernon Albert Kedit.