PETALING JAYA, Oct 2 — Lee Chean Chung has announced his immediate resignation as the member of parliament for Petaling Jaya, saying he refuses to draw a lawmaker's salary while being sidelined.

Speaking at a press conference here today, Lee said his decision followed a formal suspension notice he received from PKR on September 30.

“Should I continue accepting a salary as a member of parliament while simply sitting silently like a stump? No.

“Therefore, I, Lee Chean Chung, have today decided to resign unconditionally as the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya,” he said.

Lee said he met Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday to submit his resignation letter.

“We met at around 3pm yesterday to hand over my duties and as a gesture of respect for our legislative institution. It takes effect today,” he said.

Lee also said he would submit his resignation from PKR by Monday.

Asked whether he would join Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli in Bersama, Lee said he had already made his decision but wanted to focus on his resignation as an MP for now.

When asked if he would contest the Petaling Jaya parliamentary seat at the next general election, Lee said: “I want to stay in PJ.”

Lee said he received his suspension letter on Wednesday evening and claimed he had not been given an opportunity to provide an explanation or attend a hearing over the past three months.

Lee said his suspension had left him unable to debate or express his position within PKR, while claiming that management of the RM3 million Petaling Jaya constituency allocation had also been taken over through a process lacking transparency.

He said he believed his outspoken positions on issues including the Urban Renewal Act (URA), foreign worker recruitment, SST, university admission for STPM holders and Selangor's RIBI guidelines were among the reasons for his suspension.

Lee also criticised the National Unity Government's direction, raising concerns over institutional reforms, high-profile DNAA cases, alleged corporate mafia links and the delay in separating the powers of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor.

He said he would continue to uphold progressive and multiracial politics and institutional reform, while the Petaling Jaya Service Centre would continue operating as usual.

Lee is the fourth PKR lawmaker to recently quit as an MP, after Rafizi, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Wong Chen.