TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

Just hours after Penang assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said that former Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin cannot retract his resignation as lawmaker, the Penanti assemblyman today reiterated his decision to resign. Fairus also vowed to take legal action against individuals and media organisations who were allegedly involved in slandering him, he said in a statement. “I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against individuals, politicians and certain media for embarrassing me by making baseless allegations against me,” said Fairus in a statement sent to The Malaysian Insider. He also said he fully support the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier today, Fairus said he would leave it to the party leadership whether he should retract his resignation as assemblyman which was announced last week. His resignation paved the way for a by-election and the Election Commission is scheduled to announce its decision on the Penanti seat on Monday. Yesterday the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) cleared Fairus of graft allegations. The decision not to prosecute Fairus was also reportedly backed by the Attorney-General. The 33 year old resigned as the deputy chief minister last month amid an investigation into alleged corrupt practices relating to an illegal quarry in Penang after a state PKR Youth leader lodged a report with the party leadership.