Ex-PKR lawmaker Santhara Kumar joins Bersatu

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 -- Segamat Member of Parliament (MP), Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar said he has joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on his own volition.

He said he was encouraged to join Bersatu as the party was more open to all races, besides being based on the Constitution.

"I joined Bersatu with an open mind without any pressure or coercion from any party. I have received blessings too from my comrades-in-arms, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and the Honourable Zuraida Kamarudin," he said at a press conference, here, today.

Santhara also confirmed that he had submitted his membership form to Bersatu secretary-general, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin at the Parliament building at 5.50 pm yesterday.

Santhara, who is also Federal Territories Deputy Minister, stressed that he did not leave Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) but was in fact fired from the party when he stood on his principles to back Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

He later lent his support to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the candidate for prime minister.

Santhara, who is the only non-Bumiputera MP to be an associate member of Bersatu, said he wanted to continue his struggle of helping the Indian and minority communities.

Apart from Santhara, the MPs also sacked from PKR were Mohamed Azmin (Gombak), Zuraida (Ampang), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Datuk Kamarudin Ja'afar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).

-- BERNAMA