KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial MP Zulkifli Nordin deflected a question about his loyalty to PKR when he was asked today whether he would follow the lead of two MPs who quit the party this week.

"The question about whether I will also leave the party has been asked ever since the last general election but I'm still here while others have resigned," he jokingly said.

The Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP pointed out that if he had wanted to quit the party, he would not have bothered with the disciplinary proceedings against him. Zulkifli is facing action following his police report against PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad for sedition and for his public spat against DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

"There is still room for me to stay in PKR," he said.

"The breaking point will be if the PKR central leadership council rejects my appeal for an all-Muslim disciplinary board to hear my case. I will be forced to rethink my position in the party when that happens," Zulkifli told reporters after walking out on today's disciplinary board (DB) proceedings.

The vocal Islamist had protested the religious make-up of the DB, claiming that he was being asked to answer for his stand on the use of "Allah" by non-Muslims, and walked out after his request for an all-Muslim DB was turned down.

According to Zulkifli, it was grossly unfair for a DB made up of two Christians, one Hindu and one Muslim to judge him.

The two Christians were Goh Keat Peng and Chew Swee Yoke while the Hindu was T Kumar. The sole Muslim was Tuan Syed Kamarulzaman.

He also claimed that Goh and Chew were Christian activists.

According to Zulkifli, he had sent three notices dated Feb 16, 25 and 27 to request a trial by his Muslim peers. He had also requested PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution to review the composition of the DB.

"But I believe it is the work of the 'little Napoleons' in PKR to try and humiliate and frame me and my religion," said Zulkifli.

Zulkifli was, however, careful not to criticise the top leadership, alleging that most of his problems stem from "little Napoleons" in the party. He also declined to name the persons responsible for his problems.

"As such, I was not surprised when the DB rejected my request and wanted to continue the hearing. How can justice prevail if the mainly non-Muslim panel were to judge me on my stand in the ‘Allah' issue?"

"I would accept the findings of an all-Muslim panel but it would be an insult of the highest degree if a Christian or an Hindu said I'm wrong on my religious beliefs."

When asked why he did not pledge his loyalty to the party like 12 other MPs on Wednesday, Zulkifli said he had not been told about the matter.

"This is the work of the little Napoleons who wish to divide and rule the MPs."

But when pressed on whether he would do so, the Syariah lawyer skirted the issue.

"That question doesn't arise now as I was not informed. I'll come to that if the question arises again," he said.

Zulkifli said he had shown his loyalty to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by going to prison for him and had also defended the leader in his sodomy trials.

The lawyer was part of the legal team for Anwar in 1998 in the first sodomy trial and also represents the PKR adviser in his suit against his accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in the Syariah court.

Asked if he will follow Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri's footsteps to quit the party following disagreement over the "Allah" controversy, Zulkifli said: "He has his right and I have my right over my decision.

"Since they have given me the chance to face the DB, I took the opportunity as I'm not a coward. So, I'll see what happens next."