PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar today announced he was leaving the party to stand as a government-friendly independent, effective immediately.

He said he had grown extremely frustrated following the events of the past year.

The opposition was pressing for elections when it should be helping the government combat the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. 

“Our current priority should be to support the government in containing the Covid-19 pandemic to create jobs and to secure funds to rebuild the economy.

“It will take at least 18 months just to complete the vaccination programme and more than two years for the economy to fully recover,” he said in a statement.

Xavier said the Perikatan Nasional government needed bipartisan support to succeed at these endeavours.

“The people want stability and to restart our ailing economic sectors. Towards this, we need to work together, not against one another.

““Therefore I announce my immediate resignation as vice-president and member of PKR.

“I will continue to serve my constituency and support the government as an independent MP and I am confident I will fulfil my election promises to the people of Kuala Langat,” he said.

His departure follows the arrest of Perak PKR deputy chairman MA Tinagaran last month over graft allegations.

Initial media reports had identified Tingaran as special officer to Xavier when he was a minister in the Pakatan Harapan government – a link Xavier denied.

“In a recent media report, my name was implicated, and it has brought prejudice against me as an elected representative.

“Acting on the advice of my family and friends, I am here to clear my name with the authorities. Leaders tied to corruption must be accountable to preserve the integrity of our institution and we are responsible to show good governance.

“MA Tinagaran was not an aide of mine as falsely reported, but a close family friend,’’ he said.

Xavier is the third lawmaker to leave PKR in recent weeks after Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Chong, who left to back Muhyiddin Yassin as independent lawmakers – March 13, 2021.