KEPALA BATAS, April 27 — Independent candidate Salleh Isahak for the Permatang Pauh by-election denied today reports linking him to PKR, saying he is not associated to any political party.

The 53-year-old refuted the reports that described him as a Permatang Pauh PKR committee member and acting secretary.

“I have never joined PKR and was never a member in that party and I would like to state categorically that I stopped being politically active in any party since 2001,” Salleh said at a press conference at Bertam Golf Resort here.

Salleh admitted that he was previously an Umno member and also a PAS member before that, but insisted that he “stopped being active” in Umno since 2001.

He accused PKR of spreading lies and a false resume of him listing him as a PKR member, committee member and acting secretary in the Permatang Pauh division.

“I am contesting in this by-election as an independent candidate to fight for Islamic religious causes in the name of Allah,” he said.

Salleh also lodged a police report at the central Seberang Perai district police headquarters yesterday against the false allegations.

In his report, he claimed an unknown man had approached him at his house in Sintok, Permatang Pauh, and showed him a printed resume listing him as a PKR member.

Salleh said he had denied that the resume was his and the stranger left.

He believed the false resume was created and spread online to sabotage his campaign in the Permatang Pauh by-election.

The training consultant, who only allowed six questions by the media on his statement before rushing off, said he is now mostly active only in non-governmental organisation (NGO) work.

“I’ve set up the Bakti Ikhlas Malaysia Association based here for the purpose of creating a platform for the development and unity of all Muslims regardless of political background,” he said.

He also said if he won the seat, he will not have any problems cooperating with both the Pakatan Rakyat state government and the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government for the sake of the people.

Salleh is contesting against three candidates — BN’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PRM’s Azman Shah Othman.