Akim renamed to Kita, Zaid is new chief

Published: Wednesday December 15, 2010 MYT 11:15:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday December 15, 2010 MYT 2:19:47 PM
Akim renamed to Kita, Zaid is new chief
By RAHIMY RAHIM

PETALING JAYA: Former PKR leader Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has been elected chairman of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) during an annual general meeting.

He took over from Zakaria Salleh, who did not contest the seat.

Zaid quit PKR last month in protest over the party's failure to address the issue o0f vote rigging in the recent party elections.

Zaid, who had been contesting the deputy president post in PKR, submitted his membership application to Akim last month.

Zaid, who is also former Umno member, had quit his Cabinet post after March 8 2008 following disagreement with the ISA detention of several people, including a journalist.

He had been widely speculated to either form a new party or join an existing one as top leader.

The Kelantan-based Akim was formed in 1995 but was politically dormant until recently.

He also submitted an application to the Registrar of Society to change Akim's name to Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita).

Later, he told reporters that he would announce the party's new idealogy and principles on Jan 19.

The party, which is only for Muslims now, will also be changed into a multi-racial party, he said.