Lee Chean Chung resigns as Petaling Jaya MP [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR lawmaker Lee Chean Chung has resigned as the Petaling Jaya member of Parliament.

Lee said he met Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday to submit his resignation letter, which took effect today.

"We met at 3pm yesterday to hand over my duties as a mark of respect for our legislative institution.

"So, it (the resignation) takes effect today," he said at a press conference today.

Lee said he received a decision from PKR on Sept 30 to suspend his party membership for three years.

He claimed his suspension was linked to his outspoken stance on various issues affecting the public, saying it had also left him unable to voice his position within the party.

Lee claimed that even the RM3 million allocation for the Petaling Jaya constituency had been taken over by a party representative.

"Now the situation is more serious because I can no longer debate or voice my position within the party, while the management of the constituency allocation has been taken over through a process that is not transparent.

"All this while, I have spoken out on various issues affecting the rakyat, including the Urban Renewal Act and the system that monopolises the recruitment of foreign workers. I expect these were among the reasons that led to my suspension," he said.

Lee said the problems faced by his constituents would not stop simply because he had been told to remain silent.

"Should I continue to receive a salary as an MP but simply sit silently like a stump or piece of wood?

"Taking a salary without doing anything is one thing, but the people's problems will not stop.

"So my answer is no. As such, I, Lee Chean Chung, have today decided to resign unconditionally as the member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya," he said.

Lee also thanked the people of Petaling Jaya for their support, saying the constituency's service centre would continue to operate as usual.

"I am a Petaling Jaya resident, and I will continue to stand with the people to change the old political culture that is no longer suitable for Malaysia today," he said.

His resignation came amid reports that he would be suspended from the party following his appearance at former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's Parti Bersama Malaysia event.

The strained ties between Lee and PKR intensified in early June when he claimed he had lost access to his constituency's allocations. He said this happened after he attended the Bersama event.

Lee had sought clarification from the government after his access to constituency allocations was reportedly blocked through the MyKhas portal.

He had questioned why such a move was taken against him, as he remained an MP who supported the unity government and had never declared that he was leaving the government bloc or voted against the government.

On June 12, Lee had announced his resignation from the party's Central Leadership Council.

Lee, however, said at the time that he would remain a PKR member and continue serving as the Petaling Jaya MP until the current parliamentary term ends.

He had also said he had made the decision as he could no longer continue working with the party leadership, claiming that it had failed to address what he described as mistakes within the party.