SOLYMONE BLOG: FAIRUS QUITS, FORCES BY-ELECTION

Fairus wants to continue his postgraduate studies and spend time with his family, and also clear his name from allegations ‘thrown’ at him

GEORGE TOWN : Embattled Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who quit as the Penang deputy chief minister 1 last week after allegations of graft, today resigned his Penanti state seat to force a by-election that could decide his replacement.
In a four-paragraph statement today, Fairus said his decision is best in the interest of PKR and would also allow him to continue his post-graduate studies and spend time with his family.
"This will also allow me to focus on clearing my name from all the allegations thrown at me," the double-master’s holder said in the statement issued by the PKR information bureau.
The 34-year-old assemblyman also thanked 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.
State assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said yesterday he had not received any notice of absence from Fairus for the assembly sitting between April 20 and 28.
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. The other candidate is deputy state PKR chief Dr Mansor Othman, who was recently named as one of two senators from Penang.