Backbenchers’ Club Chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad Quits
Shahrir quits BBC over rejection of integrity motion
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a morning of high drama in Parliament today (May 4, 2006) when the rejection of a motion by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang sparked the immediate resignation of Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru) as Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairman.
Shahrir, who had supported the motion to refer an integrity issue involving an MP to the rights and privileges committee, quit because backbenchers did not back him in the vote.
He said he supported the motion to defend the integrity of MPs and Parliament.
His abrupt decision to quit caught MPs by surprise when he walked out of the House to announce his decision to reporters in the lobby about half an hour after the sitting began at 10am.
This was followed by impromptu media conferences by BBC deputy head Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz, as well as other backbenchers, urging Shahrir to reverse his decision.
BERITADARIGUNUNG: Quitting has been Shahrir's way. Then nobody knows what he is fighting for. Integrity?
