JUST as I was stepping out of my office for a lunch appointment on Thursday, one of my colleagues called me to inform that former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has resigned as the state assemblyman for Penanti.

I remember it was around 12.45pm. I walked back into my office and in a loud voice exclaimed to everyone, “What! Another of the PKR boys creating problems again. When will they stop?”

This is no laughing matter. The resignation of an elected legislator warrants a by-election to be called to elect another candidate to fill the vacancy. This involves the use of public funds and we, the citizenry, are paying for the personal problems of our politicians. I hope they are aware of the consequences of their political misadventures.

I will not hide my annoyance and disappointment at what is happening in PKR or with PKR people. We have just concluded three by-elections on April 7. Of the three, the by-election in Bukit Selambau was caused by another PKR problem guy — V Arumugam. And you know why he resigned — because of his personal stigma.

The way V Arumugam explained himself — that he was threatened by BN people and he feared for his safety — made him looked like a fool if he thinks he can take us all for fools in believing what he said.

Why don’t you just be honest and tell the truth — instead of blaming others. Come on, come clean Mr Arumugam!

I really wish that those seeking elective office would be true to themselves and well as to the public. If they don’t, they will lose their credibility and respect from the people. I wish that politicians like V Arumugam and Fairus had come clean with their personal problems instead of using their forked tongues in conjuring up silly excuses and lying to the people.

When Fairus tendered his resignation as Penang Deputy Chief Minister on March 22, he explained that he wanted to pursue further studies. Please Fairus, what a joke! Do not take us for fools. It’s easier to tell the truth, even though it hurts.

Worse, he also said he resigned as DCM then because he wanted to spend more time with his family. Another familiar tale and lie! Fairus is only 33 years old. You mean to tell me that he didn’t realise last year when he stood for election that he also needed the time with his family.

Please stop all those flimsy excuses. It really makes politicians in that mould look and sound idiotic.

True enough, the truth came out two weeks later.

Fairus was having problems with his own party leaders in Penang. Indeed, if there is a plot by his party detractors to oust him, perhaps he deserves it. Come on, this PKR boy does not even know how to run a football association.

But was he involved in malpractice with quarry operators on Penang mainland as alleged? I don’t know. Still, there is no need for him to quit the Penanti seat as he has not been charged yet.

Coincidentally, Fairus’s resignation was announced the same day that Elizabeth Wong returned to work after a two-month hiatus. There is no necessity for me to repeat here about what happened to the Selangor executive councillor and Bukit Lancan assemblywoman.

But what do the issues surrounding Arumugam, Fairus and Elizabeth Wong tell us about PKR?

The party may be helmed by a seasoned politician like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But its middle-level and grassroots leaders are still groping in the dark, not knowing exactly perhaps about the party’s ideologies, policies and directions, and certainly unaware of what to do in times of political upheaval.

We know that Fairus was totally lost when accusations and allegations about his incompetence, difficult to work with personality and neglecting his constituency surfaced six months into his tenure as DCM of Penang. Depict his weak personality and one unable to command the respect of his subordinates, Fairus’s feeble attempt at defending himself only made things worse for him. The result is his current predicament.

Perhaps PKR and Anwar did not have much of a choice in the selection of candidates during the March 2008 general election. The line-up may not be his ‘dream team’ but it was the best then.

Probably, Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar were also shocked and unprepared for the governance of several states after the polls. Who would have thought that BN would be defeated in Selangor or Penang, for example?

Selecting those who emerged problematic later — like Arumugam, Fairus and Elizabeth — was also something he did not foresee, so let’s be fair to Anwar and PKR.

So where do the party go from here? A lot of soul-searching is definitely required. The party has to flush out half-baked leaders and those vested with personal agendas. Sadly, many in PKR seem to portray the same image and attitude as the very people they had criticised and condemned. Once they are placed in a position of power and authority, their minds start to wander at the opportunities before them. PKR leaders and those in Pakatan Rakyat have to be different, think different and act different from those in their opposing camp. If they do not, what kind of a choice can the people have?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Najib had said that “this is not the time for by-elections”. Politicians must concentrate on the priorities of the people and nation.

I agree with the prime minister.

Perhaps in the coming by-election for Penanti, BN can concede a walkover to PKR. The ruling coalition is not likely to win the seat anyway, considering that Penanti is located in Anwar’s stronghold of Permatang Pauh. However, I know that is not likely to happen but I hope Najib can dare to be different.

As for PKR, I’m sorry but I have to say that I am very disappointed with all the political problems created by your boys. I hope your people will buck up, and fast.

(Comments can reach the writer at paulsir99@hotmail.com)