PKR lawmaker Wong Chen has resigned as an MP, becoming the latest to quit the Dewan Rakyat after former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

In a Facebook statement, Wong said he will hold a press conference this Wednesday regarding the matter.

He added that he will also be removing his MP honorific title from all of his service centre billboards, signages and correspondence by next month.

“On Aug 5, I met with the speaker and handed over my resignation letter as MP, effective Aug 10 at 5pm,” he said, referring to Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul.

“This was to allow parliamentary officers three working days to prepare for the vacancy of the Subang parliamentary seat. We had a gentleman’s agreement not to release any details until Aug 10 at 5pm,” he added.

Earlier today, Wong uploaded a short clip of him packing up books and other items in a space presumed to be his office while clad in a light yellow shirt, with the video’s caption cryptically stating: “No caption needed.”

In May, Wong told Malaysiakini that his immediate priority then was to ensure proposed constitutional amendments are properly debated and passed in Parliament before making any decisions on his political career.

At the time, Wong was referring to two bills, one seeking to impose a 10-year limit on the prime minister’s tenure, and another on separating the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor.

Neither bill was retabled during the most recent parliamentary sitting on July 16, with the next Dewan Rakyat meeting scheduled to take place on Oct 5.

Wong had also said that while Rafizi and Nik Nazmi had to relinquish their MP posts to lead Bersama, other PKR MPs who attended the fledgling party’s launch would have to consult their constituents before planning their moves.

READ MORE: Rafizi and Nik Nazmi quitting PKR, vacating seats, to head Bersama party

Tense ties

Wong’s decision to step down as an MP comes amid tense relations between him and PKR, with the former parliamentarian previously challenging the Pakatan Harapan party to take stronger action against him after a disciplinary probe was initiated against him.

The probe, which is believed to be ongoing, was connected to a show-cause letter issued to him after his attendance at the Bersama event.

Wong was also the first PKR MP to lose access to the Prime Minister’s Department MyKhas online system used to manage constituency development allocations.

READ MORE: ‘Reap what you sow’: Wong Chen delivers stinging rebuke of Harapan, hints at exit

Two other PKR MPs who were present at the event have since faced similar restrictions, with the duo recently telling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that Malaysia and public funds do not belong to him.

Their Aug 8 joint statement came after government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil rejected claims of a double standard over the withdrawal of access to the MyKhas system, asserting that the funds involved were the prime minister’s special allocation.

Anwar had also issued a similar denial, insisting that funds are channelled directly to the people rather than through elected representatives.

“Allocations don’t necessarily have to be given to MPs. Instead, allocations go directly to the people.

“Since when do we have to give it to MPs?” he was quoted as saying on Aug 7.

Umno leader chides Wong

In a separate statement, Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii criticised elected representatives who resign without giving reasons or explanations, saying they should take the responsibility entrusted to them by voters seriously.

He said that while BN is not part of Harapan, the coalition has discipline and understands the seriousness of issues involving the public interest.

“When we commit to serve until the end of the parliamentary term, we will honour it. This is for the interest of the people. Despite the many political pressures placed on BN, we continue to carry out our work for the people.

“The people must reject elected representatives who compromise their principles and betray the trust placed in them by the people.

“Being an elected representative is not merely about relying on constituency allocations. They must speak up and fight for the interests of the people they represent in Parliament,” Razlan added.