Elia Bit, the Baram PKR Youth branch leader in Sarawak, worked with the former Kapar MP when she was the candidate for Marudi in the state polls.
Speaking to FMT today, Elia said she and Marudi PKR were shocked over Manikavasagam’s two-year suspension from the party.
Elia, who was “adopted” by Manikavasagam during the election, described him as someone who is enthusiastic and committed to the party, as well as what the party fights for.
“(During the election) he covered more than 40 longhouses with me in the rural areas of Marudi, like Long Tisam, Long Teran, and Senunuk, where we had to go by boat without a roof for six hours, just to fly the PKR flag and uphold the justice the party is fighting for.
“Never once did we hear him mocking the party or the leadership of our party. Instead, he shared his experiences with Anwar during the 2008 election that opened the eyes of Marudi voters and changed their perception about our party,” she said in describing her experience.
Elia said Manikavasagam had also taken it upon himself to assist Telang Usan and Mulu, upon finding out his colleagues William Leong and R Sivarasa had been barred from entering Sarawak.
He had helped supply flags to the two areas, she said.
“He also visited Mulu to assist in campaigning at the Mulu National Park among the Tering, Berawan and Penan voters for the sake of winning more seats for PKR.
“Even though we lost, Marudi made history when, for the first time, PKR managed to get 4,106 votes (compared to 1,568 in 2011), because YB Mike helped us.
“He is a genuine fighter,” she added.
In a statement last week, PKR’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil said party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution had informed Manikavasagam, who is a central leadership council member, that his party membership had been suspended for two years effective Aug 25.
“This is the decision of the party’s political bureau, based on a report by the party’s disciplinary board, which found Manikavasagam had made the slanderous statements against the party in a speech in Kapar on April 8,” he said.
Manikavasagam has since received the suspension letter, and said he will appeal the decision.
He has also denied ever slandering Anwar.