Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin has not ditched PKR to join a group of rogue MPs led by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, a Sabah chapter leader has claimed today.
Sabah PKR vice-chairman Kenny Chua said that reports of Jonathan being part of a group of the 10 other MPs led by the Gombak MP to leave the party was untrue.
“So far no comment from YB Jonathan, but he said he still supports DSAI,” said Chua, using the acronym for PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Jonathan has told us he has not left the party,” he added, when pressed further.
Earlier today, there was confusion as to whether the first-term MP was with Azmin’s faction and had quit the party as reported last Monday. But a Facebook status earlier today said that he never left PKR.
However, an hour later, the post had been taken down the status and replaced it with a different message that any issues regarding his position in the party will be discussed with the party’s committee and bureau later today.
The first message read that “For the record, I am still in PKR. At the same time, I also deny that I have given my agreement to leave the party. I will clarify this matter with the party’s committee/bureau later this afternoon.”
Jonathan was named as part of Azmin’s 10 supporters who had formed an independent bloc after leaving PKR on February 24 to pledge support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. They were rumoured to be joining Bersatu.
In a later development, Sabah PKR disciplinary bureau chief Sazalye Donol said that Jonathan is still a PKR member as he has not been sacked.
Sazalye said that he had exchanged texts with Jonathan and that the latter had claimed he had told party president Anwar Ibrahim he had not quit PKR.
“But the problem is that this denial comes three days after the incident (MPs quitting PKR) and after meeting of MPs with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday.
“Where he pledged his allegiance – to Anwar or Dr Mahathir Mohamad – we don’t know. This is the same for the other 10 MPs led by Azmin,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sazalye said despite this latest U-turn by Jonathan, the latter’s position in the party was subject to PKR’s central disciplinary board.
“A show-cause letter will be issued by the central board but we will hold the hearing here. The central board will only issue the letter based on our recommendation. Let’s be clear, the only ones sacked were Azmin and Zuraida. As for the others, they are still considered members,” he said.
Sazalye pointed out that besides Jonathan, they were looking at issuing show-cause letters to several other division chiefs suspected of being aligned to Azmin’s camp.
“However, all this will only be done after everything (political crisis) settles and calms down,” he said.
On Tuesday, Jonathan was photographed with the 10 other rogue PKR MPs at Sofitel Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the base of the rebel group following the political imbroglio triggered by the Sheraton Move.
Jonathan was also spotted in a video where the group of rogue MPs had bid PKR “bye bye”.