It’s chaotic in Perak, with the state government is at the brink of collapsing following the rumors of defection of two PKR state assemblyman to Umno.
The duo who’ve gone into the dark are Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyperson Osman Jailu.
They’re not reachable since the past few days until Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar announced that they have stepped down as state assemblymen with immediate effect.
Then out of the blue, one of them Jamaluddin broke his five-day silence and denied he has resigned as a state representative. He alleged the letter was only a pledge of loyalty, stating that if they were to ever quit PKR, they would automatically vacate their seats.
Interesting, he further accused that he was made to sign the letter under duress, 11 months after he signed the letter? Anyway, this is story for another day.
While it’s too early to tell if they know their cards, I’d like to leave you with a few points to ponder.
Before that, it’s important to note that they were charged in a Sessions Court on Aug 25 last year with allegedly receiving bribes over the application for a RM180 million housing project in Sri Iskandar in Perak Tengah and their case comes up for hearing on Feb 10.
If convicted, they could face a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Whether they’re guilty as charged, let’s leave the issue to the court to determine the outcome.
So now, back to the story.
When Bota assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim quit Umno and defected to PKR on the eve of Chinese New Year, both the PM and DPM condemned the move as a show of a weak man and an inappropriate act.
Even Umno strongman like Muhyiddin Yassin expressed support to the proposal to introduce the Anti-Hop Law which he believes is important to ensure political stability in the country. Before that, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the time was ripe to amend the Federal Constitution for the enaction of the proposed Anti-Hop Law.
Fast-forwarded.
Yesterday, Pak Lah gave a strong indication that the Barisan Nasional may soon wrest back control of the Perak state government from the Pakatan Rakyat, with the defection of PKR assemblymen to Umno.
"(We will) accept them as it is their choice and they want to join us in the struggle… it will be a new experience for them and allow them the opportunities to serve through the BN," he said.
Suddenly, the idea of party hopping becomes very much relevant because the flip-flop Abdullah think it’s all right for them to join Umno and more so he thinks they’ve confidence in Umno’s struggle?
Desperate? Yes, definitely, doesn’t matter if the move is going to imply badly on them as being seen as a corrupted force.
Well, by looking at the way they slammed the Umno’s disciplinary board chairman Tengku Rithauddeen proposed that the party’s Youth, Wanita, Putera and Puteri wings be abolished to curb money politics, there is nothing much in Umno that can be less surprising.
Hypocrite? Even more for sure. A complete reversal of stance from the leaders condemning the act of defection to supporting it in such a fashionly way.
Anyway, if the duo decided to defect to Umno, there is nothing much the MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin can do besides to call for a snap election in Perak, with consent from the Perak sultan and by looking at the last by-election results in Permatang Pauh and the recent triumph in Kuala Terengganu, I dare say it’s a bless in disguise if the state assembly is dissolved, with the PR coalition standing brighter chance to continue ruling the state rather than the BN coaltion with its big brother Umno is too busy putting in effort doing lobbying tasks for the upcoming general assembly.
We shall see if it’s going to be the dead of ethnocentric political ideology in Malaysia, once and for all.
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SK
By default or by design, you have left out the memorable Sept 16 PR march to PutraJaya . What was your opinion then or PKR, PAS and DAP? Maybe Anwar should have a taste of his own medicine. Another thing that baffles me is that why should PKR MPs or Aduns signed undated resignation letter? I don’t think DAP, PAS or even UMNO do that.
the resignation letter is a brilliant move it’s a perfect reflection of our AliBaba culture!
Anwar – call for a snap election and we will return Pakatan to a bigger majority in Perak!
to Ketuanan Rakyat!