Tuesday 17 February 2009

Nude photos: Elizabeth Wong offers to quit - Malaysiakini

Feb 17, 09 8:32am

Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong will offer her resignation from her state cabinet post and state assembly seat following her nude photographs controversy. - Malaysiakini

She is expected to make the annoucement at a press conference at 11am to be held at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana.

It was reported yesterday that nude photographs of Wong, who is PKR Wanita publicity chief, were being distributed in public.

It is believed that the photographs were taken - most likely by a former boyfriend - while she was sleeping and without her consent.

Apart for the photos, it is learnt that a video clip is also in circulation.

Wong, 37, has been serving as state executive councillor in charge of tourism, consumer affairs and environment for the past 11 months.According to sources, top PKR leaders who met late last night to discuss the scandal have decided to end the controversy swiftly ahead of two key by-elections.

By-election in Bukit Lanjan?

Wong was elected to the Bukit Lanjan seat - one of the three state constituencies in the Subang parliamentary seat.

The constituency covers parts of Damansara, Bandar Sri Damansara and Bandar Utama.

Should her resignation be accepted, the Election Commission will have to call a by-election in the mostly middle-class constituency within 60 days.

In the general election last year, Wong was one of the many opposition candidates who was unexpectedly swept into power on the back of widespread dissatisfaction with the Barisan Nasional.

The PKR politician, in her maiden campaign, polled 12,125 votes against incumbent assemblyperson, Gerakan’s Yong Dai Ying, who bagged 6,970 votes.

Wong won with a majority of 5,155.

If the seat is vacated, one likely PKR candidate is former Gerakan Federal Territory chief and ex-deputy minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong, said sources. The former MP for Segambut joined PKR last August.

Another possible contender is ex-MCA Klang Wanita chief and former Klang MP Dr Tan Yee Kew, who also defected to PKR last year.

However, PKR may opt to run a younger candidate.

Meanwhile, Kajang state assemblyperson Lee Kim Sin of PKR is favourite to fill the exco post if Wong steps down.

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