ALOR STAR: It was show time for Pakatan Rakyat solidarity in Kedah on Friday night.
All Pakatan state representatives lined up at a public rally in Kota Sarang Semut to display a strong coalition unity and quash persisting rumours on an imminent collapse of a fragile coalition state government.
The Pakatan unity demonstration outside the Kedah PAS headquarters underlined the state government’s determination to defy political predictions, emitting mainly from Barisan Nasional-sponsored rumour mill, of its demise.
Friday night three PKR and sole DAP legislators spoke and vowed to stay in Pakatan, much to the delight of the mammoth crowd.
The four – PKR’s Tan Joon Long @ Tan Chow Kang (Sidam), S Manikumar (Bukit Selambau) and Lim Soo Nee (Kulim), and DAP’s Lee Guang Aik (Kota Darul Aman) have been speculated to be contemplating to defect from Pakatan.
Inevitably the four berated BN, Umno and the media for the speculations.
They pledged that they would not betray and abandon their voters, parties and Pakatan for selfish interests.
The four said that they would not entertain any more questions from the media on defection rumours after last night.
PKR state chief and Kuala Kedah MP Ahmad Kassim told the rally that the loyalty pledges by PKR and DAP assemblymen have finally laid rest the rumours of defections.
He warned rumour mongers that they would be slapped with a civil suit up to RM10 million each at the next instance of speculation on possible defection among Pakatan legislators in Kedah.
He warned that the suits would not spare individuals, politicians, organisations, media and bloggers.
“The speculations not only destablise the state administration, but also question the integrity and dignity of Pakatan assemblymen,” he said.
No doubt the Kedah Pakatan administration helmed by Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has been under siege from the ever rapacious Umno-dominated BN from day one he took office.
Sore losers BN
A sore loser indeed, BN is alleged to be exploring all ways and means to wrest control of Wisma Darulaman from grasp of the PAS-led state government for past two years.
“BN cannot stomach its electoral defeats in Kedah, Kelantan, Perak and Penang and Selangor, and loss of the parliamentary two-thirds in the 2008 general election.
“BN, especially Umno, is ignorant that there is time to win and to lose in democracy. They can’t wait to see us complete our mandate.
“So they keep wooing to destablise us,” said Azizan at tha rally, accusing BN of attempting to seize Kedah in ala-Perak style.
Kedah exco Manikumar at the rally
BN wrest control of Perak government vis-à-vis defections of Pakatan state representatives – Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) and Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), both PKR, and DAP’s Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong.
In Kedah, two PKR representatives – Mohammad Radzhi Salleh (Lunas) and Tan Wei Shu (Bakar Arang) – have defected to become independent assemblymen aligned to BN.
Kedah has 36 state seats with Pakatan holding 20 (PAS 16, PKR three and DAP one), Barisan Nasional 14 (Umno 12 and, MCA and Gerakan one each), and there are two independent assemblymen.
Two more defections from the Pakatan alliance would result in a hung state legislative assembly.
PAS assemblypersons are Menteri Besar Azizan (Sungai Limau), state executive councillors Phahrolrazi Zawawi (Pengkalan Kundor), Mohamed Taulan Rasul (Tokai), Amiruddin Hamzah (Anak Bukit), Hamdan Mohamed Khalib (Tanjong Dawai), Abdul Ghani Ahmad (Ayer Hitam), Ismail Salleh (Alor Mengkudu) and Siti Aishah Ghazali (Merbau Pulas).
Others are Ahmad Izzat Shauki (Bukit Lada), Md Rohsidi Osman (Bukit Pinang), Mohd Nasir Mustafa (Kubang Rotan), Yahya Abdullah (Jeneri), Abdullah Jusoh (Pantai Merdeka), Johari Abdullah (Kupang), Md Zuki Yusof (Kuala Ketil) and Yaakub Hussin (Bandar Baharu)
BN assemblypersons from Umno are former Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid (Pedu), Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid (Ayer Hangat), Nawawi Ahmad (Kuah), Abu Hasan Sarif (Kota Siputeh), Ahmad Zaini Japar (Bukit Kayu Hitam), Saad Man BN (Jitra), Syed Sobri Syed Hashim (Kuala Nerang), Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (Bakar Bata), Suraya Yaacob (Sungai Tiang), Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Mohd Tajudin Abdullah (Belantek) and Azmi Che Husain (Bayu).
MCA’s Leong Yong Kong (Gurun) and Gerakan’s Cheah Soon Hai (Derga) complete the composition.
Azizan has already warned all Pakatan representatives, especially the PKR trio, he would not hesitate a second to advice the Sultan dissolve the assembly at the slightest hint of another defection.
But upon hearing their pledges, he at least could have slept well last night.
Sleepless nights for MB
Azizan (centre) admitted having sleepless nights for past few months upon hearing persisting speculations of his government.
Who wouldn’t be upon hearing that his government legislators were being offered up to RM10 million as “hopping reward” by top Umno leaders from Kedah?
Sources claimed that under the negotiations, the legislators will be paid an initial RM1 million upfront sum while the balance RM9 million will be paid once BN had taken over the state government.
They were also allegedly offered directorship in certain government link companies and bungalow houses.
Azizan is however, determined to prevent any attempts to exert premature demise of his government.
He reiterated that Kedah would brace a snap election at very instance of another defection.
“So if BN wants Kedah, it has to wait until the next election. As for now, we have the majority rule in Kedah.
“We are here to stay,” thundered Azizan, drawing crowd applause. – FMT
