Lee Chean Chung should have remained the Petaling Jaya member of Parliament until the end of his term despite his differences with PKR and its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
The senior PKR lawmaker said Lee should have continued serving his constituents and attending Parliament, citing the example of Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who continued performing his duties despite being suspended by Umno.
“It is not proper for Lee to resign as Petaling Jaya MP. He should have served as PJ MP until Parliament is dissolved,” Hassan said when contacted.
Lee resigned as Petaling Jaya MP on Friday after submitting his resignation letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
His resignation came after PKR suspended him from the party for three years.
Lee had claimed that the suspension was linked to his outspoken stance on various issues affecting the public.
Hassan said Lee’s political differences with PKR or Anwar should not have come at the expense of voters who elected him.
“Why betray the PJ voters who elected him?” he said.
Hassan also warned that Lee’s resignation, together with those of three other former PKR MPs, could affect efforts to push through institutional reforms requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
He cited proposed constitutional amendments to separate the roles of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, as well as a proposal to limit a prime minister’s tenure to two terms or 10 years.
“This is a betrayal by former PKR MPs who resigned irresponsibly, with the consequence of sabotaging the institutional reform agenda,” he said.
Hassan added that Lee could now face a tougher challenge in defending the Petaling Jaya seat because of his decision to resign.
Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the party should remain focused on serving the people, strengthening PKR and fulfilling the mandate entrusted to it by voters.
“Changes involving an individual leader should not divert attention from our greater responsibility to the people,” she said.
“It’s not about who leaves or who joins, but about how far we can continue to earn the people’s trust and fulfil the mandate they have given us.”
Lee’s resignation makes him the fourth PKR MP to leave the party this year, following former deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in May, and Wong Chen in August.
