KUALA LUMPUR, 9 Feb 2009: It is better for Perak PAS to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) to strengthen Malay unity and hence enable a stronger government to be formed in the state, said Umno Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
Mukhriz, who is also the Member of Parliament for Jerlun, said PAS should consider this alternative as the combined seats of the BN, PAS and Independents in the Perak legislature would enable a strong government to be formed in the state.
“If the Malays are united, all Malaysians stand to benefit,” he told reporters at the pre-launch of the Down Syndrome Association of Malaysia’s gala dinner, here today.
Mukhriz said this in commenting on the political turmoil in Perak in the wake of the BN wresting power from Pakatan Rakyat in the state.
In the general election in March 2008, PAS won six seats, PKR seven and the DAP 18, to form the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak. The BN won 28 seats.
However, following defections from amongst its ranks, the coalition lost its majority in the 59-seat state assembly and thus enabling the BN to take over.
Mukhriz also urged DAP chairperson Karpal Singh to desist in his plan to take legal action against Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak and accept the fact that the BN was now in power in Perak.
On the gala dinner, Mukhriz, who is also the patron of the association, said it planned to collect RM350,000 in donations to help the some 50,000 children afflicted by the syndrome in the country.
Done in collaboration with Menara Kuala Lumpur (Menara KL), it will be held at Dewan Tun Ismail, Putra World Trade Centre here on 3 April.
Also present at the pre-launch were Menara KL chief executive officer Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad, the association’s president Assoc Prof Dr Syarifah Zainiyah Syed Yahya and popular singer Zainal Abidin Mohamed. — Bernama
