Colombo, May 19: Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) appears set for another split as three of its MPs have revolted openly against the leader Rauff Hakeem. Rishard Badurdeen, Najeed a Majid and Hussain Bhaila, three of the 10 SLMC MPs in Parliament said yesterday that Hakeem's close links with the main Opposition UNP had threatened the Muslim interests.
They accused Hakeem of trying to oppose the government of the President Chandrika Kumaratunga due to his alleged close-links with the UNP. The MPs warned that they would remain as a separate group in the Parliament unless Hakeem voluntarily gave up the party leadership. Hakeem has faced a troubled week as the SLMC leader with state media flashing pictures of a woman who is alleged to have had a personal relationship with Hakeem.
The SLMC leader speaking in Parliament denied any involvement to the scandal. Moments before that his trusted confidante and MP Hussain Bhaila announced that he had crossed over to Kumaratunga's party leaving behind his leader.
The SLMC supreme command met last night and suspended the membership of the three revolting MPs and another member of the party's highest decision making body. Hakeem a member of the Kumaratunga government in 2000 was sacked by the President in 2001. He later allied with the UNP and became a minister with the UNP's victory in 2001.
Bureau Report