In a post on his Facebook page this morning, the Kuala Langat MP said he will continue to serve his constituency and support the current government as an independent MP.

Xavier, who has been with PKR since 1998, said he had become “extremely frustrated” following the events of the past year.

The former water, land and natural resources minister said it was unnecessary to discuss the possibility of a general election at this point in time.

He added that the priority should be on supporting the government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuild the economy and that this required bipartisan support.

“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.”

Xavier’s resignation comes after two other PKR elected representatives, Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong, quit the party last month and declared their support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

A Whatsapp message that went viral recently claimed that Muhyiddin and former PKR president Mohamed Azmin Ali were aiming to woo two more MPs from PKR, namely Xavier and Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah.

Chin rubbished the rumour, saying that it was intentionally made up by “idiots” and declared that she was against party-hopping.

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