Malaysia

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung resigns after PKR suspension

Leeโ€™s resignation comes two days after PKR suspends his membership for three years, and he is expected to formally leave the party on Monday

Updated 1 hour ago ยท Published on 02 Oct 2026 12:12PM

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung resigns after PKR suspension
Lee Chean Chung vacates the Petaling Jaya parliamentary seat with immediate effect - October 2, 2026

LEE Chean Chung has resigned as the Petaling Jaya MP with immediate effect, just two days after PKR suspended his membership for three years.

Lee, who has served as a PKR member since 2008, announced his decision today, saying he would submit his resignation from the party on Monday.

“On Sept 30, I received the decision that my membership has been suspended for three years and that I have received the black and white for that. As such, I have made the decision to resign (as the Petaling Jaya MP) without any conditions,” he said at a press conference.

He said he had met Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday to inform him of his decision.

Lee said he could not accept remaining as an MP while being prevented from speaking out on issues affecting his constituents and the country.

“Am I supposed to continue receiving a salary as an MP but just sit silently like a stump?

“No.”

He said his suspension came after he had raised issues including the Urban Renewal Act (URA), the system for managing foreign worker recruitment, the Sales and Service Tax (SST), university admission for STPM holders and guidelines concerning places of worship in Selangor.

Lee also alleged that access to RM3 million in allocation for Petaling Jaya had previously been blocked and that management of the funds had subsequently been taken over through a process he described as lacking transparency.

His resignation comes amid tensions over his involvement in activities linked to Bersama, a political party launched by former PKR leaders Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

There had been reports that PKR was considering a three-year suspension for Lee following unhappiness among grassroots members over his participation in Bersama events while remaining a PKR member.

Lee, however, said his decision was also driven by broader concerns over the direction of the government and institutional reforms.

He criticised the government’s handling of issues including alleged corporate influence, high-profile prosecutions and the delayed separation of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor’s roles.

Lee said he remained committed to progressive, multiracial politics and institutional reform.

“PKR was the first political party I joined. I left my corporate career and gave much of my youth to this struggle because I believed politics should be used to defend those who are treated unfairly,” he said.

Lee said he had no regrets over his political journey since joining PKR in 2008 and thanked party colleagues and supporters who remained committed to clean politics and institutional reform.

He also said his Petaling Jaya service centre would continue operating despite his resignation as MP.

Among the constituency issues he cited were efforts to stop the PJD Link project, push for a delay to the Selangor Intelligent Parking system, secure a site for a public hospital and address flooding concerns.

“I will continue to stand with the people of Petaling Jaya and bring together the strength of the people to change the old political culture that is no longer suitable for Malaysia today,” he said. - - October 2, 2026

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