IPOH, Feb 5 — Perak plunged deep into crisis today after Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin refused to resign on the orders of Sultan Azlan Shah, desribing the situation as a coup by Barisan Nasional, while the Umno-led coalition prepares to be sworn in as the new government.

Umno leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, are already gathering at the Istana Kinta here, even as Pakatan Rakyat leaders seek a last-minute reprieve from the ruler.

"We are not rejecting the decision of the Sultan. We are pleading to ask for the dissolution of the assembly.

"The Sultan told me that BN has 31 to 28 but I told him that was inaccurate as three have vacated their seats.

“I asked for consent to dissolve to protect the rights of the people,” he told reporters at the official residence of the MB here.
He said the Sultan had asked him to resign, and he told the ruler he would not.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the PR alliance of Pas, PKR and DAP fully supported Nizar, and wanted the matter “returned to the court of the people”.

“BN has twisted it as if we are committing treason. But we are merely pleading.

“The leadership council of Pakatan will seek an audience with the Sultan,” he told reporters at the same press conference.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders were earlier locked in an emergency meeting following Sultan Azlan Shah’s refusal to grant a dissolution of the Perak state assembly and his order for Nizar to resign.

This decision to not to resign will lead PR on a collision course with the Sultan, whose decision has been greeted with immense criticisms even on his own website where visitors have been expressing their disappointment.

It is understood letters have been sent by fax to the MB's and all state executive councillors, asking them to vacate their offices.
The police have also set up road blocks around the state secretariat here.

Many offices have also closed early for the day, with employers asking their staff to go home early.

It remains unclear if a planned public rally tonight will go ahead but Barisan Nasional leaders are already going ahead with plans to form the next state government.

Earlier, Sultan Azlan Shah announced his refusal to give his consent for the dissolution of the Perak state assembly, and asked Nizar to resign in a statement carried by national news agency Bernama.

And if Nizar refuses to resign, the post will be declared vacant.

This will pave the way for BN to form the next state government.

The office of the Sultan of Perak, in a statement, said that after meeting all the 28 BN assemblymen and the three independents, the Sultan was convinced that Nizar had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.

"If YAB Datuk Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin does not resign his post as Perak menteri besar together with the members of the state executive council, the posts of menteri besar and state executive councillors are considered vacant," the statement said.

It is understood that a candidate for the MB's position has already been proposed to the Sultan, who has given his approval.

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi is also expected to meet the Sultan at 6pm today to confirm the formation of a new state government.

A mammoth gathering has been planned tonight, originally to be held at the MB's residence, but which has apparently been shifted to the Perak Stadium.

Earlier, the Sultan concluded a busy morning of talks with both Nizar and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a bid to break the political impasse in the state.

He met Najib twice before summoning Nizar to his palace as well.

"Signs are good," Nizar told reporters as he left the palace.

But Najib was equally optimistic that the Sultan would rule in his favour and allow BN to form the state government.

In his second audience with the Sultan, Najib brought along the 28 BN state legislators and the three independents backing the coalition to see the Ruler to make his case for a new government.

"A second audience with the Sultan was arranged. It was attended by all 27 Barisan state assemblymen and Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who has returned to BN, together with the three state representatives who left their parties and are now supporting Barisan.

"All of them pledged their support to Barisan, and the person to be appointed as the menteri besar later, before the Sultan," he told reporters before chairing the state Umno liaison committee meeting.

He said the final decision now rests with the Sultan.

Najib added that BN would respect and abide by the Ruler's decision, even if meant the dissolution of the state assembly to enable fresh state elections to be called.

Nizar's Pakatan Rakyat government has filed a suit to declare three state seats vacant after their representatives turned independent. The three — from Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang — have thrown their support behind BN, which also accepted back the Bota assemblyman who had defected earlier.

Pakatan Rakyat had hoped this move would persuade the Perak Sultan to accede to a request to dissolve the 59-seat assembly and pave the way for snap polls.

Earlier, Najib was granted an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah this morning a day after he declared BN has enough support to form the state government.

Najib was seen entering Istana Kinta here around 10am accompanied by Bagan Datok MP Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and other BN officials.

The cheerful-looking Najib and the state Umno deputy chief Zahid left the palace about 30 minutes later.

When met later Najib said that he had informed the Ruler that BN has the majority in the state assembly and intent to form the new state government.

He added that the Sultan had expressed his wish to meet all 31 BN supporters in the assembly before the decision on the new state government can be made.

"We will respect whatever decision made by the Sultan as it is his discretion," Najib told reporters at the state Umno building.

The deputy prime minister, who is also the Perak BN chairman, announced yesterday the coalition now enjoys the support of 28 of its assemblymen and three independents in the legislative assembly with 59 members.

The state BN's success in toppling the PR government would give legitimacy to Najib's leadership as he is slated to take over the premiership by the end of March, after suffering a blow with the defeat in the Kuala Terengganu by-election. - The Malaysian Insider

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Perak Menteri Besar’s refusal to resign despite the request by Sultan Azlan Shah did not mean Pakatan Rakyat was on a collision course with the Perak palace.

“Considering the spirit of constitutional monarchy and Parliamentary democracy, this takover if allowed will be a disaster to the democratic system,” Anwar told reporters after a meeting with PR leaders.

He added that only a dissolution of the state assembly and a state-wide election would solve the problem.

On the order by the state secretariat for the leaders to vacate the building, Anwar described the action as abnormal.

“The MB has not resigned, has not been dismissed. It is abnormal under the so-called democratic system,” he added.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang described the takeover attempt by BN as a coup led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“A month before Najib becomes the sixth Prime Minister, but today he has launched a coup de etat,” said Lim adding that Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin was still the Menteri Besar.

“The PR government is still legitimate. This takeover is illegal and unconstitutional,” said the Ipoh Timor MP.

Earlier today Nizar was ordered to resign by the ruler as he was deemed to have lost the support of the majority of the state’s lawmakers.

The government has however refused to step down saying that BN has no majority in the assembly, claiming that the three independents who back the coalition have resigned as legislators. - The Malaysian Insider

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said a large section of the public will be angry if the Perak Ruler does not dissolve the state assembly and invites Barisan Nasional to form the state government on the basis of dubious crossovers.

Writing in his blog, the Gua Musang Umno MP cautioned that taking control of Perak without getting the mandate of the people will spell disaster for BN in the next general election.

"Our taking control without resorting to elections would cement the enmity of the very people we should be trying to win back.

"Come the next general election, they are going to reject both our state and parliamentary candidates with greater vehemence, and not just in Perak."

The former finance minister said contests in a democracy are not a fight for survival where anything goes but a competition to serve and BN must reform to improve its ability to serve with distinction.

He said this was a long-term goal which required immediate focus, adding that BN did not need questionable victories which he described as distractions but needed to upgrade itself to win elections again, fair and square.

Tengku Razaleigh said this was the only sustainable way for BN to win back the public.

He said Umno was in critical condition because of ethical failures and its biggest challenge was tackling corruption at every level.

"We are under close public scrutiny and unless we implement radical reforms and are seen to be doing so, we are finished politically come next elections".

However, he said, BN was embroiled in "winning back" Perak with the crossover of who he described as low-calibre individuals.

"The two assemblymen whose allegiance we have suddenly gained are under investigation for corruption, while the Bota assemblyman's justification for his record-breaking 10-day double-hop is an insult to the public's intelligence and nauseating in its insincerity."

He said this open abuse, for personal gain, is what caused people to hate Umno.

Tengku Razaleigh also lashed out at the circumstances surrounding the defections.

"The mysterious disappearances, sudden reversals, and weak explanations, show ample signs of illegal inducement.

"No matter what the truth of the matter, let us not fool ourselves. People will not believe that these crossovers were honest. This mistrust will taint any government formed on the back of these crossovers."

He said the celebrations over the Perak takeover were premature because the defections may or may not topple the state government.

"The Constitution and the role of the Ruler in such crises must be respected because defections are not a basis for the formation of a government. Elections are."

He said the Constitution spells out a formal process for the formation of a government and the Ruler is sworn to uphold and protect this constitutional process.

"The menteri besar has sought the Ruler's consent for the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. The decision now rests with the Ruler." - The Malaysian Insider

A Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Perak is looking all but certain after a PKR state assemblyman defected back to Umno while three independents pledged their support for the coalition.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin also failed to secure consent from Sultan Azlan Shah to dissolve the state assembly in his last ditch attempt to have fresh polls and head off BN's attempt to seize power.

“The decision is now with the Sultan,” Nizar told reporters after an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah.

At a press conference in Putrajaya earlier, Deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced to reporters that Jamaludin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu and Hee Yit Foong would back a BN government while Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who had just two weeks earlier defected to PKR, would rejoin Umno.

“BN now has the majority to form the next government. We will seek an audience with the Perak Sultan.

“BN has 28 seats now, which is equal with Pakatan Rakyat, but we have three exxtra who are friendly to Umno and BN,” Najib said

He added that the three independent lawmakers had also informed the Sultan in a letter sent yesterday that they had quit their parties.

All four assemblymen appeared at the press conference with Najib.

Jamaluddin, Osman and Hee had earlier turned independent while Nasarudin had defected to PKR less than two weeks ago.

“The situation in the state is critical. I have to make sacrifices,” Nasarudin said when asked why he had decided to rejoin Umno.

The other three did not speak to reporters.

With their defections, it is looking likely that BN will get to form the state government.

More PKR lawmakers are also expected to defect to BN.

Najib said BN representatives would meet the Sultan as soon as possible to seek his consent to form the next state government.

With the defections to BN, the Pakatan Rakyat will only have 28 seats to Barisan Nasional’s 31 in the 59-seat assembly.

Nizar is now resting PR’s hopes on the Sultan in the hope that consent will still be granted for fresh polls.

The PR alliance of PKR, Pas and DAP are confident of winning fresh polls with a bigger mandate.

But with a four seat majority, and more defections likely, the Sultan looks likely to accept BN’s offer to form the next government. - The Malaysian Insider

The Sultan of Perak is said to be in Kuala Lumpur. The Perak Menteri Besar is not able to have an audience with Tuanku to request the dissolution of the Perak State Assembly.

Perak has fallen.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will announce the formation of a new Perak state government at 4.00pm today in Putrajaya.

Dato Nasaruddin has crossed back to Umno. Two more DAP Perak State Assemblyman/ women are said to have defected.

Five Pakatan Rakyat State Assemblymen in Kedah are said to be ready to cross over to Barisan Nasional. The Kedah state government is also about to fall. - Malaysia Today

BN mempunyai cukup jumlah Adun untuk membentuk kerajaan baru Perak selepas empat Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) melompat kepadanya secara terbuka dan rasmi hari ini.

Tiga bekas wakil rakyat Pakatan termasuk Adun Jelapang dan juga bekas Timbalan Speaker DUN Perak, Hee Yit Foong akan kekal wakil rakyat bebas tetapi bersama kerajaan BN, kata timbalan perdana menteri.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata beliau akan menghadap Sultan Perak secepat mungkin.

Adun Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim - yang mengumumkan melompat kepada PKR selama 10 hari - kembali semula kepada Umno.


4:25pm Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Behrang, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi dan Adun Changkat Jering, Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu akan menyertai Umno.

Kedua-duanya kini berada di pejabat timbalan perdana menteri.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak memanggil semua Adun dan ahli parlimen BN sebelum mengadakan sidang akhbar khasnya jam 4 petang ini.

Adun Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim - yang mengumumkan melompat kepada PKR selama 10 hari - juga kelihatan di pejabat timbalan presiden Umno itu.

Adun Jelapang dan juga bekas Timbalan Speaker DUN Perak, Hee Yit Foong kelihatan di Putrajaya.


3.52pm Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak dijangka akan dibubarkan dalam masa terdekat jika Sultan memberikan perkenan kepada kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat itu untuk memanggil pilihanraya negeri secara mengejut.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin kelihatan masuk Istana Kinta di Ipoh jam 3.50 petang untuk menghadap Sultan Perak.


kemaskini 3:25pm Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin dalam sidang medianya tadi memaklumkan Adun Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim "diculik". - Malaysiakini

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is meeting Sultan Azlan Shah for his consent to dissolve the state assembly in a bid to head off attempts by the opposition Barisan Nasional to form a new state government.

Nizar’s abrupt move comes amid amid swirling rumours more Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen are defecting to BN, on top of the three who have turned independent.

The menteri besar told reporters at 3pm that he would be seeking an audience with the Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

He also said that Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasharudin Hashim, who had defected to PKR from Umno less than two weeks ago, has now gone missing, adding that he had heard unconfirmed reports that the lawmaker had been “abducted”.

The MB added that he had been informed by the assemblyman’s wife that her husband was taken by Umno assemblymen Datuk Ahmad Pakeh Adam and Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house in Kuala Lumpur.

Nizar’s announcement that he would seek an audience with the Sultan also comes amid news that the DAP’s Hee Yit Foong had just quit her party.

“I am on my way to the palace now to get consent from Tuanku to dissolve the state assembly after the loss of two PKR assemblyman and the uncertainties surrounding the Jelapang assemblywoman.

“Even though we have governed well and done good work there have been attempts to rob the right of the people who have chosen a Pakatan Rakyat government,” he said.

Nizar added that if BN were to accept the two PKR men into their fold, it would reflect a government weak in morals.

BN is expected to make an announcement this afternoon that Nasharudin has defected back to Umno and that it is offering to form a new state government in Perak.

Najib has called for a press conference in Putrajaya today at 4pm, and speculation is rife that he will be making the announcement on behalf of BN.

A number of senior BN assemblymen are already making their way to Putrajaya.

It is not clear when BN officials will seek an audience with the Sultan.

Earlier, political circles were buzzing with talk that Sultan Azlan Shah had asked Nizar to form a unity government.

Hee’s exit from DAP means she now joins the two PKR state assemblymen who have declared themselves independent and makes Nizar’s administration a minority government. The Pakatan Rakyat government now holds 29 seats to Barisan Nasional’s 27 in the 59-seat assembly.

If Nasharudin rejoins Umno, BN’s representation will go up to 28. If the three independents back BN, the coalition will then have a three-seat majority.

Nizar is now resting PR’s hopes on the Sultan in the hope that consent will be granted for fresh polls.

The PR alliance of PKR, Pas and DAP are confident of winning fresh polls with a bigger mandate.

The BN coalition is hoping, however, to be able to secure the support of the three renegade PR lawmakers who have now turned independent to form the government.

With their backing, BN will hope to attract even more PR lawmakers to defect.

Constitutional experts have said calling for snap polls is the only way out of the Silver State’s political quagmire with the Election Commission refusing to call for by-elections in Behrang and Changkat Jering.

The Pakatan Rakyat government has already given the Election Commission 48 hours from yesterday to reverse its decision.

Social pressure group Aliran has added its voice to objecting the Election Commission’s decision, saying it has no inherent powers to decide whether a vacancy has occurred in a constituency.

“Legally there exist no doubts as to the vacancies of these two seats but there are clearly doubts as to why the Election Commission chose to take this decision which is without doubt ultra vires,” Aliran president P. Ramakrishnan said in a statement.

He lamented that the decision will perpetuate the problem of party hopping plaguing Perak, saying the razor-thin majority will ensure “the uncertainties of governance will continue to exist to the detriment of the people and their welfare”.

“Aliran would also like to appeal to His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Perak, in all humility, to kindly consent to the dissolution of the state assembly as a way to overcome this deadlock,” Ramakrishnan said. - The Malaysian Insider

By Wong Chin Huat

EVENTS are moving so fast in Perak that by the time this column is published, the Barisan Nasional (BN) may be in control of the state legislative assembly if there are enough defections to its side from Pakatan Rakyat.

Even though the two Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives who were tipped to cross over to the BN have reportedly tendered their resignations, nothing is certain.

Already, one of the elected representatives, PKR's assemblyperson for Behrang, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi, has denied resigning. If, as stated by Jamaluddin, the resignation was tendered by the party and not by the representatives themselves, it could potentially be contested.

Hence, it is still possible that Jamaluddin and Changkat Jering state representative Mohd Osman Jailu, who have been charged with corruption, could still defect from the Pakatan Rakyat to Umno. The Pakatan Rakyat-BN ratio in the state government would then be a wafer-thin 30:29.

This would mean the defection of just one more Pakatan Rakyat state assemblyperson would put an end to the coalition-run state government. If such a defection occurs, it also means that the BN would have succeeded in reducing the number of Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states from five to four. This could mark the beginning of its revitalisation since its disastrous performance in the 8 March 2008 general election.

My reading, however, runs contrary. If the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government is brought down through defections, this may, in fact, hasten an early demise for the BN and its federal government. On one condition: that a snap poll for Perak — what a majority of democratic governments would opt for in the face of a no-confidence vote — is called by the state government.

A referendum on Umno

Should this happen, the BN's chance of winning Perak is really slimmer than a sheet of paper. The existing party and ethnic breakdown of the current Perak state legislative assembly is telling. The Pakatan Rakyat's current 32 seats consists of DAP's 18, PKR's eight and PAS's six. On the BN's side, 26 out of 27 lawmakers are from Umno. The 27th BN lawmaker is from the MCA.

Ethnically, the Pakatan Rakyat has 22 non-Malay Malaysian representatives (all of DAP's 18 and four of PKR's) and 10 Malay representatives, in sharp contrast to the BN's 26 Malay Malaysians and one non-Malay. That could mean there are 36 Malay-majority seats and 23 non-Malay majority or mixed seats in Perak.


However, PAS Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (holding the Pasir Panjang seat), and PKR's assemblyperson for Behrang, Jamaluddin, both won in seats that were traditionally contested by the MIC, seats which are non-Malay-majority or mixed seats. Thus there are actually two fewer, or 34, Malay-majority seats and two more, or 25, non-Malay-majority or mixed seats in Perak.

If a snap poll was called for, how would the Malay and non-Malay Malaysian electorate vote?

There is no legitimate ground for a vote of no-confidence against the current Pakatan Rakyat state government. Except for the corruption charges against Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman, the Pakatan Rakyat is not implicated in any major scandal of corruption, power abuse or incompetence.

If anything, the Pakatan Rakyat government, which prides itself for its "inexperience in corruption", has scored with flying colours. Even on a financial note, its 2008 revenue has increased by RM97 million, or a whopping 15%, from 2007.

Hence, a snap election would actually be a referendum on whether Perak voters should reinstall or reject an Umno-dominated government.

Fatal self-deceit

What has Umno done since 8 March to win back non-Malay Malaysians? Nothing.

If anything, provocative statements by the likes of Datuk Ahmad Ismail and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, and worsening police violence have created more bad press for Umno and the BN.

At the same time, it would be fatal self-deceit if the BN actually thinks that the retention of Chinese Malaysian votes in the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election can be repeated elsewhere.

So, there is a good chance that the BN will lose all the 25 non-Malay-majority and mixed seats in a snap poll. This would send a strong signal to all Umno's non-Malay allies: the end is nigh. Stay in the BN and you will sink with Umno because of the electorate's wrath. That would give little incentive to these allies to continue remaining in the BN.

But what about the Malay-majority seats? If the Pakatan Rakyat sweeps away all the 25 non-Malay-majority and mixed seats, it would only need another five seats to form a simple majority government. Hence, to stop Pakatan Rakyat, Umno must prevent the Pakatan from winning another five Malay seats.

Has the Pakatan Rakyat government done so badly in meeting the needs and aspirations of the Malay Malaysian electorate that it cannot keep even five out of its current eight Malay-majority seats?

In reality, PKR and PAS will not only keep the five Malay-majority seats they need to remain in power, they are also likely to make inroads into Umno heartland.

How? Just sing Umno's tune of Malay unity. If a Pakatan Rakyat state government in Perak is a given because of the non-Malay Malaysian voters, the choices left for Malay Malaysian voters are straightforward: vote PKR or PAS for stronger Malay representation in government, or vote Umno for a stronger Malay opposition.

Faced with that kind of choice, isn't it obvious Malay Malaysian voters will vote for the Pakatan Rakyat to ensure they are strongly represented in government?

A worse scenario

That is not the worst that could happen to the BN.

A worse outcome is that Umno manages to deny PKR and PAS those crucial five Malay seats. Imagine this scenario: Umno wins 30 Malay seats, while the Pakatan Rakyat takes the 25 non-Malay or mixed seats and the remaining four Malay seats.

While Umno would then claim that Malay Malaysians have returned to its fold, the Pakatan Rakyat would likely undermine such claims by producing evidence of alleged electoral fraud, especially with the likely wafer-thin victories in most of the Malay seats; and by organising protests or acts of civil disobedience.

Meanwhile, an all-Malay government is something Malaysians have not ever experienced. And Umno cannot count on the defection of non-Malay Malaysian lawmakers from the Pakatan Rakyat opposition who would fear the electorate's wrath more than anything. No less because such a defection would be seen as a sell-out in an environment that is profoundly anti-Umno. And unlike Sabah in 1994, the next federal government need not be Umno-led. These factors will surely influence the calculation of possible defectors.

As we can imagine, a Perak under Umno would likely be ungovernable given the inevitable strong opposition from half of the Malay and almost all of the non-Malay Malaysians in the state. In such a situation, the federal government may even call for a state of emergency if opposition to an Umno-led state government starts to become messy.

But whether this happens or not, Umno would lose its "stability" appeal, something it has held on to even during the Reformasi years. Voting Umno would then be associated with voting for chaos.

Do we need to ask how voters would then vote during the 13th general election?

The best scenario

The best scenario for the BN to form the next state government is to bring down the current one through defections to its side, instead of going through a snap poll. But that would require Perak MB Nizar not requesting for the state assembly's dissolution for snap polls to be held. Or it would require Sultan Azlan Shah rejecting such a request if it was made.

But why would Nizar hand over his government to his enemies? And why would the well-respected Perak Sultan sacrifice his reputation of benevolence, modernity and unity to save Umno?

As Stephen Covey states in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, begin with the end in mind. That's good advice to political parties before they start playing with fire.  - The Nut Graph

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Behrang, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi dipetik memberitahu sebuah portal berita yang beliau telah keluar dari PKR dan kini menjadi wakil rakyat bebas.

Portal berita itu juga memetik Jamaluddin sebagai berkata, Adun Changkat Jering, Osman Jailu juga telah keluar parti dan kini menjadi Adun bebas.

Agendadaily - yang melaporkan telah menghubungi Jamaluddin selepas Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) memutuskan Jamaluddin dan Osman Jailu masing-masing masih Adun Behrang dan Changkat Jering - memetik beliau sebagai berkata, tiada sebab untuknya terus berada dalam parti itu.

Manakala Bernama pula memetik Setiausaha Agung PKR, Datuk Salehuddin Hashim menolak spekulasi bahawa Jamaluddin dan Osman telah keluar daripada parti itu.

"Setakat ini kita (PKR) tidak menerima sebarang surat mengenai peletakan jawatan mereka, tiada rekod bahawa mereka keluar parti dan tiada rekod yang mengatakan mereka masuk parti lain.

"Ini bermakna mereka masih lagi ahli parti kita dan tidak ada sebab nak buang mereka dari parti. Kita yakin mereka bersama kita," katanya kepada Bernama hari ini.

Agendadaily memetik Jamaluddin sebagai berkata, beliau membuat keputusan berkenaan seteleh meneliti sikap dan keputusan PKR berhubung dengan surat perletakan jawatannya yang ditandatangani Mac lalu.

"Surat itu disimpan oleh PKR negeri Perak. Mana mungkin surat perletakan jawatan itu boleh disampaikan kepada Speaker DUN Perak jika bukan dihantar sendiri oleh PKR negeri.

"Bagi saya ini membuktikan sikap sebenar PKR. Dengan menghantar surat itu kepada Speaker Dewan ia juga boleh ditafsirkan mereka telah membuka pintu dan meminta...Jamal kamu keluarlah," katanya.

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Perak yang dianggotai PAS, DAP dan PKR kini mempunyai 32 kerusi dengan DAP (18), PKR (lapan) dan PAS (enam) manakala Barisan
Nasional (BN) 27 kerusi.

Dengan Jamaluddin kini menjadi wakil rakyat bebas, kerajaan Pakatan Perak kini mempunyai 31 Adun.

Jika Osman mengikut jejak langkah Jamaluddin, maka jumlah Adun Pakatan di negeri itu akan 30 orang dan BN,27 orang dan bebas dua orang. - Malaysiakini

IPOH, Feb 3 — Perak plunged deeper into crisis today when the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government declared today that it would give the federal Election Commission (EC) 48 hours to review its decision not to hold the Behrang and Changkat Jering by-elections.

Senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham told reporters today that if the EC does not change its mind, the Perak government would take necessary action.

He declined to say what action would be taken but it would likely involve challenging the federal authority’s decision in court.

“The EC is usurping the function of the speaker and has misconstrued its role. It is there to conduct elections not to decide whether or not there should be an election,” said the Perak DAP chief.

The Perak government appears determined to force polls for the two state seats in order to bring an end to the political uncertainty which plagues the state now.

Perak state assembly Speaker V Sivakumar had declared the two seats vacant after receiving resignation letters from two PKR lawmakers Jamaluddin Radzi and Osman Jailu, who had gone missing last week and were expected to defect to the opposition Barisan Nasional (BN).

But the two renegade PKR men now claim the said resignation letters were undated documents they signed after PR parties won the state in last year’s general election.

The expected defection of the two will result in the state government being left with only a wafer-thin one seat majority in the state legislature.

State PR officials are hoping to use by-elections, which the allied parties are confident of winning, to make the defections moot.

But the EC announced today that the two men had written to the Speaker to say their resignations were not valid, and this has cast doubt in the matter.

The political intrigue in the state looks set to continue as both PR and BN are understood to be actively trying to lure each other’s assemblymen.

With this scenario, the Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is likely to be also considering the possibility of dissolving the assembly and calling for fresh elections.

In a press conference at the Perak DAP headquarters here, Ngeh added that it was not up to the speaker nor the EC to conduct any enquiry into the validity of the letters but to act on them.

“A dispute can be taken up in court. We are not saying there should be no avenue for redress but that grievances should be taken to the courts,” he said.

He added that while PR did not want to pursue the matter in court, it would have to weigh up its options once the 48 hours were up.

He said that the EC’s refusal to call by-elections clearly showed biasness against the PR government although he sidestepped questions of whether the EC was siding with BN.

Ngeh however said that the accusation of bias would be retracted if the EC reversed its decision. - The Malaysian Insider

By Lim Kit Siang

The Election Commission has acted unconstitutionally outside its jurisdiction in refusing to recognize the decision of the Perak Speaker, V. Sivakumar on the vacancy of the Changkat Jering and Behrang state assembly seats and to hold by-elections.

As pointed out clearly by the former Election Commission Chairman, Tan Sri Rashid Rahman, the Election Commission’s constitutional duty is to act on the Perak Speaker’s official notification on the vacancy of the two state assembly seats and to call for by-elections to be held in the next 60 days.

It is no business of the Election Commission to act and usurp the jurisdiction of the courts to dispute the Speaker’s decision – as any such legal challenge should come from Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu if they want to challenge the legality of their resignations from their respective state assembly seats.

In this case, the Election Commission has even acted as a court of law – in a decision which is clearly influenced by the political interests and considerations of the Barisan Nasional.

With the further odds against the Pakatan Rakyat state government in Perak, all options to resolve the political crisis in Perak will have to be considered.

By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today gave a strong indication that the Barisan Nasional may soon wrest back control of the Perak state government from the Pakatan Rakyat.

Abdullah responded in the affirmative when asked if there was any truth to the rumours that two PKR assemblymen in Perak would hop over to Umno soon.

"God willing, that may happen," he told reporters at the launch of the Federal Territories Day festival here this morning.

He added that it showed confidence, even among political rivals, that Umno is a party that fights for their ideals.

Abdullah refused to comment further when pressed to elaborate.

The outgoing Umno president said the leadership would make the announcements when things were confirmed.

The two coalitions are currently engaged in a tug-of-war over the loyalties of their members, which came to a head today, forcing the Perak state government leadership into an emergency meeting.

PKR Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Radzi and his Changkat Jering colleague Osman Jailu have been reported "missing" since the Umno Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim publicly declared his intention to cross over to their party.

The PKR duo were at the centre of a bribery charge last year. Last August, Jamaludin and Osman, along with three others, were charged with 16 counts of corruption involving a RM180 million housing project spanning 36 hectares in Sri Iskandar, south of Ipoh.

Their trial is scheduled to begin 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.

According to rumours, they were offered to have the corruption charges against them dropped if they switched camps.

Abdullah was also asked to comment on the protest by Umno members against the investigation by the newly-minted Malaysian Anti-Coruption Commission (MACC) into allegations of money politics in the Malay-based party.

He clarified that the protest was not so much against the MACC's investigations into Umno as it against the methods allegedly employed by the anti-corruption team in extracting information.

An Umno member has complained of being tortured during the MACC questioning.

Abdullah said that the matter should be left to the police to investigate first before deciding on the next step.

Assalamualaikum,
Henry Gurney telah menyebabkan seorang ahli istana sebak kerana memperkenalkan pembinaan kampung baru Cina. Dengan mengambil tanah negara. Sebenarnya isu tersebut adalah satu daripada ujian yang sedang dilalui oleh Menteri Besar Perak ini untuk mematangkan beliau sebagai seorang statesman.

Kita dapat baca duduknya beliau dikerusi menteri Besar tersebut bukanlah kerana kekuatan PAS, tetapi oleh faktor lain. Hakikatnya Allah menghendaki beliau menduduki kerusi tersebut.


Menganugerahkan tanah kepada penduduk kampung baru Cina di negeri Perak telah ditentang oleh pelbgai pihak, kononya membelakang Kanun Tanah Negara. Tetapi beliau terus dengan keputusannya. Menganugerahkan title tanah 999 tahun kelihatan seolah tangan beliau dipulas oleh DAP, tetapi beliau teruskan keputusannya. Kerana beliau ingin memberikan status kekal kepada penerima.


Sara bara dan duka nestapa serta susah payah masyarakat Cina yang dibura dan diherdik British di zaman darurat tidak banyak didokumentasikan dalam penulisan berbahasa Melayu. Seolah orang Melayu sengaja tidak peka dengan nestapa yang telah menimpa masyarakat tersebut. Nizar membela keperitan mereka setelah lebih 60 tahun mereka diazab dan disisih.

Mengapa perlu mereka dibela? sebab mereka adalah warganegara Malaysia. Pemerintahan sebelum ini tidak memberi peruah langsung kepada mereka. Dan kepentingan Orang Melayu langsung tidak terjejas dengan pembelaan ini.


Ada pihak yang menggunakan saluran tertentu untuk membantutkan usaha Nizar menukarkan Pengarah Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak Dato' Haji Jamry Sury. Beliau telah akur, dan dengan penuh santun dan rendah diri merombak semula arahan terdahulu. Peristiwa ini sahaja sebenarnya telah cukup untuk menurunkan beliau dari kerusi menteri besar, walaupun dari segi undang undang arahan awal beliau adalah betul.


Tetapi beliau terus bertahan.


Masuknya Dato' Nasarudin ADUN Bota ke PKR telah membenihkan spekulasi baru. Sama seperti kongelomerat RENONG memakan syarikat ibunya dalam satu maneuver bisnis yang dikenali sebagai reverse takeover, kelicik politik yang ini juga cuba dikaitkan dengan reverse takeover kerusi Menteri Besar Perak.


Saya baca ini tidak akan berlaku. Pertama maneuver ini bukan dalam bisnis. Kedua implikasi politik terlalu besar dan tidak menentu sekiranya ia dilakukan, sedangkan PR, terutama PKR dan PAS sedang menonggang gelombang populariti yang tinggi sekarang. Mengapa perlu rosakkannya?

Maneuver RENONG tidak akan berlaku di sini.


Cuma Nizar masih belum lincah berpolitik high profil. Belum perlu lagi dimasyhurkan sekian ramainya ADUN/MP BN yang akan lompat ke PR.


Nizar perlu belajar hal timing. - Hamirdin

IPOH: Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali is expected to resign as chairman of the Perak Barisan Nasional and state Umno liaison committee to take responsibility for the defection of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim.

Party insiders told the New Straits Times that the former menteri besar had conveyed his intention to quit to Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a meeting at the latter's residence in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

It is learnt that Tajol Rosli, a supreme council member, will officially step down this week, with Najib assuming both posts effective Feb 1.

Tajol Rosli was supposed to vacate the posts after the party elections in March but decided to leave immediately following Nasarudin's defection to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

He has held the two posts since 1999.
"Tajol Rosli was not asked to do so, but as a good leader he has decided to step down and take responsibility for his failure (to prevent the defection)," said a source.

"Najib is calm about this and will probably take over the helm of the Barisan Nasional in Perak."

It is learnt that Lintang assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar were also present at the four-hour meeting.

The presence of the two men was due to rumours that they were also leaving Umno for the PKR.

"However, both pledged their loyalty to the party and gave their assurance that they would not jump ship, as widely speculated," the source said.

Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, who was linked to the two men, also called Najib from abroad to affirm that he would not be crossing over to the opposition.

"All of them had a heart-to-heart talk on this matter and everything has been resolved for now," said another source.

With Nasarudin's defection to the PKR, Pakatan Rakyat now has 32 seats in Perak to BN's 27. - NST

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 28 — The Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) should organise a mass movement to demand that Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim gives up the seat to enable a by-election as he has chosen to cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), said Umno Supreme Council (MT) member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Rais, who is also Foreign Minister, said Nasaruddin won the seat on the BN ticket in the general election and by deserting the coalition, he had betrayed the trust the people had placed in him.

“If I were a Perakian, I would start mobilising all the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and village chiefs now to demand his resignation. The Perak BN should take this step.

“We (Umno) have thousands of branches in Perak. Umno branches, the Putera, Puteri, Youth and Wanita wings all must speak up. Just voicing in the media is not good enough,” he told reporters after handing the letter of appointment to Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Datuk Othman Hashim, at his ministry here today.

He added that he was confident the BN would not have any problem winning the seat if a by-election was held.

On Sunday, Nasaruddin, who won the seat by a majority of 2,068 votes against PKR’s Usaili Alias in the general election held last March, declared that he was quitting Umno to join PKR.

Following his move, the Pakatan Rakyat government of PAS, DAP and PKR in the state increased its seats to 31 in the State Assembly while the BN’s was reduced to 28.

On the call by Umno’s disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail for the wings in the party to be abolished to check money politics, Dr Rais said each suggestion to improve Umno now would be given its due consideration.

“If the majority feel it would be good for Umno, the MT will definitely take it further,” he said. — Bernama

(The Malaysian Insider) - Following the defection of Perak state assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to PKR, Umno representatives in the state are now complaining of being sidelined by the party leadership.

They told The Malaysian Insider today that the Umno leadership must keep the people’s interest ahead of the party if it was serious about taking over Perak from Pakatan Rakyat.

They said infighting in Perak Umno has led to some of the party’s representatives being unable to perform their duties effectively.

The rift within the state Umno started soon after the party’s divisional meetings late last year, where some assemblymen lost their positions and it became public with Nasarudin’s defection.

The crossover also came as a blow to Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, who was said to be having problems working with some of the party’s assemblymen, as he had promised to topple the PR-led government through defection, by Aug 31 last year.

“I am disappointed with the leadership at the divisional and state level as they are not doing anything for the next election.

“We will end up like Kelantan, where they are very happy to lead the divisions, but do not want to win elections,” said Pengkalan Baharu assembyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar.

The former Beruas Umno chief who lost his post in the party election last October, however, denied that he was thinking of crossing over, adding that the situation in Perak has calmed down after a meeting with party deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“But they must not be complacent,” said Hamdi.

Another assemblyman, Hamidah Osman, said the sidelining of elected representatives in favour of division chiefs would further erode the people's confidence in the party.

“There should be more room for the people, for their representatives. What is going to happen if the people’s confidence in Umno continues to decline?” said the Sungai Rapat assemblyman, who is Barisan Nasional’s (BN) sole representative within the Gopeng federal constituency.

“If they want to win the people’s support, they should not be focussing only on Umno members,” she told The Malaysian Insider, admitting that she has been contacted by a PKR official to defect but had rejected the offer.

Hamidah added that Umno divisional leaders were only interested in protecting their positions within the party instead of focussing on strengthening the party.

Lintang state assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam claimed that many Umno representatives in the state are facing the same problems, but he added that they were not ready yet to defect to PR.

Still, he did not rule out the possibility.

“There will be more,” said Ahamad on Perak Menteri Besar’s remark that three Umno assemblymen would be joining PR.

Soon after Bota assemblyman Nasarudin joined PKR, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin claimed that three more Umno representatives would defect to one of the PR parties.

The defection of the former Parit MP brought the number of PR representatives to 31 against BN’s 27.

SITIAWAN, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Bota state assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim's crossover from Umno to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) last Sunday will not weaken Perak Umno but will instead pave the way for efforts to rejuvenate and reinvent the party to ensure it remains strong, Perak Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said today.

He said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was coaxing Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives in the state to cross over with the offer of certain posts in a desperate move to enable the PR maintain its power in Perak.

The PR government in Perak was forced to resort to such a measure in preparation for the possible loss of two PKR elected representatives who had been charged last August for accepting bribes along with three other people, he told reporters at the Chinese New Year open house organised by Perak MCA chairman Datuk Kong Cho Ha at the hall of the SMJK Nan Hwa here.

Changkat Jering assemblyman Capt (Rtd) Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, 57, and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52, are scheduled to attend court hearing from Feb 10 on the charges.

Meanwhile, at the Chinese New Year open house organised by the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Ipoh, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin denied that Nasaruddin had crossed over from Umno to PKR because he had been offered a certain post as an inducement.

He said the PR state government had not offered any post or money to the former Parit MP.

In KOTA KINABALU, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said today Nasaruddin's crossover from Umno to PKR had tarnished the democratic process in the country.

"The people had placed their trust in someone who stood on one (Umno) ticket. Then he crossed over.

"The voters placed their trust in him not because of the individual himself but because of his capacity in the party he represented which enabled him to win (in the elections)," he told reporters after a gathering with the leaders organised by the Federation of Sabah Chinese Associations.

Shafie said elected representatives should not belittle the party's struggle by actions similar to that of the Bota assemblyman.

"People are not goods to be traded," he said.

On the Umno elections in March, in which he is contesting a post of vice-president, Shafie said he was confident the delegates would elect leaders who were acceptable not only to the Malays in the party but also to the Malays and other communities outside the BN.

"If the other communities can accept us, this can help to strengthen the party, especially in the next general election.

"It is most important that communities outside the party accept us because they will also determine the government," he said.

At the function, Shafie's ministry donated RM50,000 to the federation to carry out various cultural activities, particularly involving the young.

Oleh Zanarian Abd. Mutalib

TINDAKAN Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bota dari Umno, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim melompat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) kelmarin, salah satu komponen Pakatan Rakyat, dilihat kemungkinan petanda awal "gelombang wakil rakyat" berbanding "gelombang rakyat" Mac lalu.

Justeru, penganalisis politik berpendapat tindakan Nasarudin yang mengumumkan untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat kelmarin dilihat mungkin akan membuka jalan kepada wakil rakyat BN yang lain untuk mengikut langkah beliau.

Pensyarah sains politik Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof. Madya Dr. Ghazali Mahyudin berkata, untuk menyifatkan tindakan melompat parti ini sebagai permulaan 'gelombang wakil rakyat' mungkin terlalu awal, namun ia tidak mustahil.

"Setakat ini, mungkin terlalu awal untuk meramalkan akan ada lagi wakil rakyat BN yang akan melompat ke pembangkang kerana pada masa ini baru ada seorang wakil rakyat BN yang menyertai pembangkang.

"Jika ada yang kedua (menyertai pembangkang), mungkin itu boleh dikatakan permulaan 'gelombang wakil rakyat' selepas berlakunya 'gelombang rakyat' pada pilihan raya umum, Mac lalu," katanya ketika dihubungi mStar Online.

Beliau berkata, tindakan Nasarudin seperti 'menunjuk jalan' kepada wakil rakyat BN lain yang mungkin sedang berkira-kira untuk menyertai pembangkang.

"Hal ini tidak mustahil akan berlaku kerana dalam Umno, ada banyak puak dan mungkin ada yang rasa mereka dipinggirkan lalu memikirkan perkara itu.

"Mungkin ada yang tidak puas hati kerana kalah dalam perebutan jawatan dan sebagainya.

"Mungkin mereka tidak menyatakannya tetapi dalam diam-diam, siapa tahu... seperti apa yang dilakukan Nasarudin," katanya.

Ghazali berkata, tindakan nekad tersebut mungkin diambil Nasarudin memandangkan Umno kini berada dalam keadaan lemah dan mempunyai saingan yang semakin kuat.

"Jika Umno kuat dan parti lawan lemah, mungkin mereka akan berfikir dua kali untuk ke parti lawan tetapi oleh sebab Umno sedang lemah, maka mereka rasakan tidak ada guna bertahan dalam Umno.

"Kita tahu dalam politik, semua orang mahu menjaga kepentingan masing-masing dan istilah setiakawan adalah perkara terakhir yang diambil kira," katanya.

Beliau berkata, gabungan parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat yang terdiri daripada PKR, PAS dan DAP yang semakin kuat sememangnya mampu menarik wakil rakyat BN menyertai mereka.

"Selepas menang di lima negeri pada pilihan raya umum Mac lalu, mereka juga telah memenangi pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh dan Kuala Terengganu dan jika tidak menang pun pada pilihan raya Sarawak yang akan datang, mereka mungkin berjaya menambah kerusi," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pensyarah Kanan Sains Politik dan Strategi Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Dr. Ahmad Nizamuddin Sulaiman juga berpendapat, tindakan Nasarudin itu akan menarik wakil rakyat BN yang lain untuk mengikut jejak langkah beliau.

"Saya tidak menolak kemungkinan bahawa ia akan menjadi bola salji yang semakin lama semakin besar... semakin lama, semakin ramai pula yang akan bertindak demikian.

"Mungkin pada masa ini, ada yang sedang tunggu dan lihat dan tindakan ADUN Bota ini menyebabkan mereka semakin berani," katanya.

Beliau berkata, tindakan Nasarudin sebagai wakil rakyat Umno menyertai PKR sememangnya sesuatu yang mengejutkan memandangkan ahli-ahli Umno mempunyai disiplin yang kuat dan patuh kepada arahan parti.

"Walaupun beliau adalah ADUN, bukan ahli Parlimen tetapi tindakan beliau sebagai seorang pemimpin daripada Umno sememangnya mengejutkan.

"Kita tidak jangka 'lompat parti' ini akan berlaku di kalangan ahli Umno yang kuat disiplinnya dan sering mengikut arahan parti. Kita jangka mungkin wakil rakyat dari Sabah atau Sarawak," katanya.

Beliau berkata, tindakan Nasarudin itu bagaimanapun merupakan langkah 'selamat' kerana Perak kini diperintah oleh Pakatan Rakyat.

Bagaimanapun, beliau percaya, kekalahan Nasarudin merebut jawatan Ketua Umno Bahagian Parit baru-baru ini menjadi penyumbang utama kepada tindakannya menyertai PKR.

"Walaupun beliau ADUN, jawatan Ketua Bahagian penting kerana saluran dana kerajaan pusat untuk membantu rakyat akan disalurkan kepada Ketua Bahagian.

"Mungkin kekalahannya itu menyebabkan beliau tidak berpuas hati dan merasakan telah hilang pengaruh," katanya.

Justeru katanya, BN sebagai parti pemerintah perlu mengkaji semula pengagihan dana ini yang bukan sahaja hanya diserahkan kepada Ketua Bahagian tetapi juga kepada ADUNnya.

Katanya, wakil-wakil rakyat Umno sepatutnya mempunyai semangat setiakawan yang kuat dan berjiwa Umno jika tidak mahu perkara ini terus berulang.

"Jangan kerana nyamuk seekor, habis kelambu dibakar," katanya. / Mstar

The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali will quit as Perak Umno chief soon while three Barisan Nasional state reps have hinted at following Datuk Nasarudin Hashim into Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as discontent grows over Umno’s recent divisional polls, The Malaysian Insider learnt today.

The state Umno is in turmoil now after the Bota state assemblyman repudiated the party to join his Universiti Malaya campus mate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday and revelations by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that he is negotiating with the trio to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

Among the trio are state representatives within the Larut and Bruas parliamentary constituencies, sources told The Malaysian Insider.

“Tajol Rosli has indicated to the party leadership that he will relinquish his post soon,” a source said today.

Tajol Rosli, who was Perak Menteri Besar before BN lost the state to Pakatan Rakyat in the March 2008 polls, had met with Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday to discuss Nasarudin’s defection.

He alluded to problems within the Parit Umno division that led to the former Parit MP’s decision to quit.

It is learnt that the other state assemblymen mulling their future in Umno voiced out concerns about similar problems within their divisions.

They are also unhappy that the national leadership have ignored their problems and felt that several national leaders are behind moves to oust them from party politics. Politicking and jockeying for key posts have increased since Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s exit plan was brought forward to this March.

Najib has been elected unopposed as Umno’s new president and will have to face a party rife with factional interests and ambitious warlords conspiring for their own interests rather than that of the dominant Malay party that has led the nation since Merdeka.

“Its a zero-sum game. When some lose party positions, they lose everything. The only way up could be through another party,” an Umno leader said, alluding to Nasarudin’s loss in party division elections a few months ago.

The veteran Perak leader has seen his influence diminish when he was moved from the Parit parliament seat constituency to the Bota state seat in the last elections. While he won the state seat, he lost his Felcra chairmanship, a position normally given to an MP.

The Parit Umno deputy chief’s failed challenge for the divisional top post was the last straw, sources added.

Several other divisions are facing similar problems, with the most prominent being Larut Umno’s imbroglio between current chief Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar and challenger Larut MP Datuk Hamzah Zainudin.

Raja Ahmad has charged that Hamzah, who is Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, is ineligible to contest for the division post due to procedural issues but Tajol Rosli has referred the matter to the party supreme council for a decision. No decision has been made and the division has yet to hold its elections.

Anwar, who is Parliamentary Opposition leader, yesterday also hinted of more cross-overs but Najib has denied it, calling it “rumours”.

Nasarudin’s defection is seen by many as a blow to Najib just weeks before he assumes the party presidency as it reflects a lack of faith in his leadership.

“It’s a blow to Najib as some don’t think he can handle the party well. Nobody will attribute this to Pak Lah as he is already on the way out,” a Umno veteran said.

While Perak Umno is in turmoil, Tajol Rosli maintained yesterday that the party was confident of wresting back the state from the Pakatan Rakyat electoral pact in the next elections.

“We have three years to do it and the BN has put in motion all measures especially to get the votes of the youth,” he said.

Tajol Rosli also said he has yet to meet Nasarudin, who has been avoiding his calls.

(mStar Online) - Kira-kira 24 jam selepas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bota dari Umno menyertai Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin mendakwa tiga lagi ADUN Barisan Nasional (BN) dijangka menyertai Pakatan Rakyat.

Terdahulu di ibu negara, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menafikan bahawa ada lagi wakil rakyat BN yang akan menyertai Pakatan Rakyat.

Timbalan Pengerusi BN itu menyifatkan semua itu sebagai khabar angin sahaja.

"Semua itu khabar angin sahaja...saya tidak fikir (ada lagi yang akan berpaling tadah)," katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditanya mengenai perkara itu berikutan tindakan Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim yang menyertai PKR semalam.

Nizar ketika mengulas lanjut isu itu memberitahu, perbincangan dengan ketiga-tiga ADUN terbabit sedang berlangsung dengan Pakatan Rakyat.

"Kita sedang berurusan. Perbincangan mengenainya sedang berjalan," kata beliau kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran DAP Perak di Ipoh hari ini.

Ketika ditanya mengenai identiti ADUN berkenaan, beliau berkata ketiga-tiga wakil rakyat berkenaan ialah dari Umno.

"Kami mengalu-alukan penyertaan mereka ke dalam Pakatan Rakyat dan kami terbuka untuk menerima mereka," katanya.

Dengan keputusan Nasarudin, kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri Perak yang dianggota DAP, PAS dan PKR mempunyai 32 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri manakala BN 27 kerusi iaitu 26 Umno dan satu MCA.

Dalam pada itu, Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Perak, Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali berkata, keputusan Nasaruddin tidak menjejaskan kedudukan BN.

Kata beliau, keputusan Nasaruddin itu hanya membawa perubahan kepada jumlah kerusi di persidangan DUN.

Tajol Rosli, yang juga Pengerusi BN Perak, berkata BN di Perak masih kukuh dan berazam mahu merampas semula Perak daripada Pakatan Rakyat pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

"Kita ada tiga tahun lagi untuk berbuat demikian dan BN telah menggerakkan semua jentera terutamanya untuk meraih undi pengundi muda.

"BN mendapati kekurangan undi pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 adalah di saluran tiga dan empat... kita akan gerakkan jentera untuk mendapatkan sokongan pengundi muda daripada saluran tersebut," katanya selepas menghadiri sambutan rumah terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan di Gunung Rapat di sini.