PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung today announced his resignation as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect, following his suspension from the party for three years.
Lee said he had submitted his resignation letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday after meeting him at 3pm to hand over his duties.
He said he would also submit his resignation from PKR by Monday (Oct 5).
“I, Lee Chean Chung, have today decided to resign as the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya without conditions. There are no conditions,” he said at a press conference here today.
Lee said his decision followed a written notification he received on Wednesday evening informing him that his PKR membership had been suspended for three years.
He claimed he had not been given an opportunity to provide an explanation or attend a hearing during the three-month period leading up to the suspension.
“I have not been given the opportunity to give evidence or an explanation. Not even a hearing was conducted.
“But it’s okay, we move on,” he said.
Lee also claimed that access to RM3 million in allocations for the Petaling Jaya constituency had previously been blocked, with the funds allegedly being managed by party representatives instead of the elected MP.
He said the situation had become more serious following his suspension, as he could no longer debate or state his position within the party.
Lee said he had spoken out on several issues, including the Urban Redevelopment Act (URA), the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), the Sales and Service Tax (SST), university admission for STPM holders and guidelines on riba in Selangor.
“However, the people’s problems will not stop just because I have been told to remain silent,” he said.
Lee said he joined PKR as his first political party and had devoted much of his younger years to its cause, including participating in street demonstrations and facing charges under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
He said he remained committed to progressive and multiracial politics, institutional reform and building a Malaysia that embraced diversity.
Lee also thanked Petaling Jaya residents for their support, citing his involvement in efforts to stop the PJD Link project, delay the Selangor Intelligent Parking plan, push for a public hospital in Petaling Jaya and address flooding issues.
He said his Petaling Jaya service centre would continue operating despite his resignation as MP.
Asked whether he would join another political party, Lee said he had already made a decision but declined to elaborate.
“I’m quite sure all of you know where I’m going, but today I want to focus on my decision to resign as a Member of Parliament,” he said.
Asked whether he would be the last PKR MP to resign, Lee said: “I don’t know. You have to ask them. I can only decide for myself.”
He said he received his suspension letter on Wednesday evening, adding that he was surprised the media appeared to have known about the decision before he did.
Lee’s resignation takes effect today.
