Bukit Selambau Assemblyman Resigns

State Assemblyman V.Arumugam Resigns

ALOR SETAR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has confirmed that Bukit Selambau Assemblyman V.Arumugam has resigned as the elected representative for the constituency and also as a state executive councillor.
He said he received Arumugam's resignation letter dated Feb 8 at 5pm on Monday and it was attested by a Commissioner of Oaths.
"I regret to announce that he (Arumugam) has resigned as Bukit Selambau Assemblyman and also state executive councillor with immediate effect," he told a press conference at his official residence, Seri Mentaloon, here.
Azizan said a copy of the resignation letter had been forwarded to Kedah State Assembly Speaker Dr Abd Isa Ismail.
Dr Abd Isa, State Secretary Datuk Paduka Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah Shahbudin and Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Ahmad Kassim were also present at the press conference.
Azizan said, Arumugam, through a representative, had sent two letters, one stating his resignation as assemblyman to the Speaker and the other to him to inform that he was stepping down from both posts.
"I have informed Tuanku (Sultan Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah) and presented the letters from Arumugam," he said, adding that the Speaker would notify the Election Commission (EC) forthwith to hold a by-election for the constituency.
Asked about the reasons for Arumugam's resignation, Azizan said among the contents of the letter, Arumugam had said he no longer could stand threats he had been receiving from certain parties besides alleged attempts from people claiming to represent the Barisan Nasional who offered him up to RM5 million to cross over to the coalition.
"I respect his stand in rejecting the RM 5 million offer and according to the letter, he (Arumugam) had been receiving threats since March 2008 and fearing for his and his family's safety, he took the decision to resign," he said.
Azizan also said that he had been unable to get in touch with Arumugam till now and that he was saddened by what had happened as Arumugam was a good people's representative.
Ahmad, meanwhile, said the PKR would be holding a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans for the by-election.
Based on the EC's 2008 figures, Bukit Selambau had 34,977 voters with about 50 per cent Malays, 30 per cent Indians and 20 per cent Chinese.
Arumugam, 55, a retired mechanic from the Royal Malaysian Air Force, won the seat in the 12th general election held in March last year on an Independent ticket.
In the contest, he defeated S. Krishnan of the BN by a majority of 7,695 votes.
He was also an eleventh hour candidate to contest the seat after the EC rejected the nomination papers of PKR candidate Saiful Izham Ramli on technical grounds.
He then went on to join the PKR and was appointed state executive councillor when the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PAS, DAP and PKR formed the government in Kedah.
Recently, a group of people claiming to be representing 500 residents of Taman Ria in Sungai Petani submitted a petition to the Sultan of Kedah claiming that a state executive councillor was involved in an affair with a woman.

tunku : i bet if arumugam is offered RM5million he had taken it.when they are caught red handed this is what they do to look clean.they are trying to twist the actual scenario where he is not morally fit to be kedah state assemblymen or it's exco.if not because of the complaint lodge with Tuanku Sultan Kedah, he will still be there. few days earlier azizan (ustaz) tried do deny it and today the tone was different. oh God, please no more by election after this.lots of money are wasted and will be wasted.what we need right now is to focus on our economy.we had two by election earlier and two coming soon.4 by elections........my God.let see if samy vellu still has his "charm" for winning the bukit selambau for BN(MIC).