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KUALA LUMPUR : The crisis in Malaysia's opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) party looks set to worsen, with one of its former leaders, Zaid Ibrahim, insisting on setting up his own party.
The prominent lawyer turned politician said quitting the party is just a matter of time.
Mr Zaid had a falling out with Keadilan's party de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, and its vice president, Azmin Ali, over the on-going party polls.
The 58-year-old politician joined the party a year and a half ago. Now, he wants to start his own political party - one that he said will be a credible and viable option for voters in the next general election.
"I will set up my own party, a small party, not a party that has this great dream of taking Putrajaya, but a small party that can put some good people in Parliament. My ambition is not to unseat (PM) Najib," said Zaid, the former leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
While he would not say when his new party would be formed, he is confident that his supporters would follow him.
"I am not like Anwar; I am not a show-off. I don't need to bring 20,000 members out. I would rather bring 2,000 quality members out who want to work with me. I prefer it that way," said Mr Zaid.
Mr Zaid pulled out of the PKR's deputy presidential race earlier this week.
He also quit all party posts, accusing his rival Azmin Ali of cheating in the on-going party polls.
Azmin, who is the party's vice-president, called on Zaid to reconsider his decision.
But Mr Zaid said he sees no point in staying, and has openly called on Keadilan's defacto chief, Anwar Ibrahim, to resign.
"Keadilan is finished after this. I see this party more of a cahoot of leaders that uses reform and seeks the sympathy of public, but actually it is just for him. And so it's a disappointment," said Zaid.
Now with Anwar's opposition party reeling from the fallout, and Prime Minister Najib Razak widely rumoured to go for an early general election next year, all eyes are on whether Mr Zaid can form his own party and get it ready before the next big fight. - CNA /ls
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