'I didn't distance myself without reason': Ex-PJ MP on PKR exit

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Petaling Jaya member of parliament Lee Chean Chung has rejected claims that he was absent from PKR affairs for more than a year, saying he became less active after an alleged corporate mafia issue he raised within the party was not acted upon.

Lee, who announced his resignation as Petaling Jaya MP yesterday, said the claim that he had been "missing for more than a year" from party affairs was inaccurate and diverted attention from the reason for his reduced involvement.

"My statement that I was 'missing for more than a year' from party affairs is inaccurate. It diverts attention from the root cause of this situation.

"I did not distance myself without reason. I became less active after the corporate mafia issue I raised through internal channels was ignored," he said in a Facebook post today.

Yesterday, Lee announced his resignation as Petaling Jaya MP with immediate effect, following his three-year suspension from PKR.

He said the decision followed his receipt of the suspension decision on Sept 30. He also claimed that access to RM3 million in allocations for the Petaling Jaya constituency had previously been blocked and the funds placed under the management of a party representative.

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim subsequently said the party had no issue with Lee's resignation, adding that the former MP had not attended PKR meetings or congresses for more than a year.

Lee also questioned PKR's handling of his complaints concerning an alleged corporate mafia, following businessman Victor Chin's allegation that a PKR MP had received RM9.5 million to "settle" a corporate mafia issue involving him.

Lee said such a serious allegation against an elected representative from the ruling party should have been investigated promptly and transparently.

"To this day, no action has been taken. Instead, I, who pushed for the issue to be investigated, was the one who was restricted and punished.

"On Jan 26, I called for an investigation into the issue of excessive shareholdings involving Tan Sri Azam Baki and the corporate mafia issue in Parliament. No action was taken.

"In April, I met the prime minister and sought a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI). No action was taken.

"On May 26, my constituency allocation was blocked and handed to a political party to manage. On June 12, I resigned as a member of the PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP).

"On July 2, I received a show-cause letter from the PKR Disciplinary Board. I responded on July 9 but received no reply.

"Then, on Aug 20, I personally wrote to the Disciplinary Board and requested a hearing so that I could defend myself. The request was ignored," he said.

Lee questioned the disciplinary action taken against him after he raised the issues.

"Why was the MP who called for an investigation punished, while the MP accused of receiving RM9.5 million was not investigated?

"Malaysians cannot compromise the country's reputation in the eyes of the international community.

"We cannot be seen as compromising in the fight against corruption, especially under a government elected on a reform mandate," he said.

Lee said the fundamental issue was not who was active or inactive, but why reported misconduct had not been investigated while those who exposed it were punished.

"I remain committed to the people of Petaling Jaya and to the principles that brought me into politics — integrity, accountability and the courage to speak up even when it is unpopular," he said.