TANJUNG MALIM, MALAYSIA - Two Perak PKR Wanita leaders quit the party to join Umno yesterday, citing loss of confidence in the leadership.

They are Perak PKR Wanita information chief Roshanita Mohd Basir and Tanjung Malim Wanita chief Soraya Sulaiman.

Roshanita's husband Saghazali Abd Kadir, who is secretary of the party's Kg Sengat branch near Gopeng, also followed suit.

All three said they decided to leave the party as they were no longer convinced with PKR's struggle.

"We were not paid or coerced into joining Umno. We did this on our own accord," Soraya, 42, said in a press conference at Kg Masjid, Sungai Selisik near here.

Also present was Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

Soraya, who is a single mother with four children, said she also wanted to do more for womenfolk, which she believed was more possible in Umno.

"PKR has deviated far from its original course," said Roshanita, 45.

Saghazali, 46, said they decided to leave because they felt unappreciated.

Ahmad Maslan said PKR had lost its direction as many of its leaders and members were deserting the party.

"Yesterday, Halili (former PKR Hulu Selangor treasurer Dr Halili Rahmat) left. So far, nine PKR leaders have quit," he said.