Fairus PKR quits Penanti seat

PENANG, — Embattled Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who quit as Penang deputy chief minister 1 last week, today resigned his Penanti state seat, paving the way for a by-election.

In a three-paragraph statement today, Fairus said the decision will allow him to continue his post-graduate studies.

"This will also allow me to focus on clearing my name from all the allegations thrown at me," Fairus said.

The 34-year-old assemblyman also thanked the Penanti voters for their support since Election 2008.

“This decision is for the good of all, PKR and the struggle with the leadership under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as party adviser to ensure truth and justice,” he added.

Anwar said last week that Fairus would remain as Penanti assemblyman until the end of his term but it is not known what transpired over the past 24 hours for Fairus to change his mind.

His resignation will lead to a by-election within 60 days in Penanti, which is under Anwar’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

It is learnt that Penang PKR chief and Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim is the frontrunner to contest the by-election.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who has yet to name a replacement for Fairus, was not available for comment.

In a curt statement yesterday, Lim had alluded to a possible by-election in Penanti after he asked Anwar to solve PKR Penang’s internal problems and nominate a PKR Malay assemblyman for the post.

The only two PKR Malay assemblymen are Batu Maung's Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Sungai Bakap’s Maktar Shapee.

Abdul Malik, who is a state executive councillor, is seen as the frontrunner but Anwar did not pick him last year when Pakatan Rakyat took the state from Barisan Nasional, opting instead for the inexperienced Fairus.

Fairus sent his resignation letter on March 21 after a fellow PKR member claimed he was involved in illegal quarrying activities. Lim later froze three quarrying operations but denied it was linked to the allegations.

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) picked up Fairus on March 26 at the Johor Causeway and questioned him for three hours before releasing him. Lim and his other deputy, Professor Dr P. Ramasamy gave their statements to the MACC on April 6.

The MACC said it has completed its investigations and have handed over its prosecution division but Fairus has yet to be charged for any offence.

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