No decision yet on contesting GE15, says ex-PKR MP turned independent

A PKR MP who recently left the party to become a government-friendly independent says he has yet to decide whether he will run in the 15th general election (GE15).

Tebrau MP Steven Choong said it would be up to the people to assess his performance as their elected representative.

“I am an independent MP. If the people want me to continue serving and to compete (in the election), I will do so,” he told MalaysiaNow.

“But I have yet to decide on which ticket to compete.”

Choong and fellow PKR MP Larry Sng announced on Sunday their decision to quit the party and become independents, declaring their support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The duo had handed over statutory declarations of support for the prime minister in a ceremony attended by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

Three other former PKR MPs – Mohamad Azmin Ali, Zuraida Kamarauddin and Saifuddin Abdullah – were also present.

The exit of Choong and Sng is expected to be a further boost to the government if Parliament reconvenes following the threat by Umno MPs loyal to former prime minister Najib Razak to revoke their support for Muhyiddin.

Their declaration of support for PN also means that the number of seats held by PKR has been reduced to 36, a year after the exodus of PKR leaders led by Azmin.

Choong said he had decided to leave PKR of his own will.

“I didn’t invite other PKR members to leave as I am independent. This means I am free from any party,” he added.

He also said he had requested to be removed from the Tebrau PKR chat group on WhatsApp.

He said his focus now is to defend the people’s interest and help boost economic growth.

“As an independent MP, I have access to anyone who has power regarding the people, including the business community,” he said.