ALOR SETAR, 10 Feb 2009: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) today denied it has anything to do with the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblyperson for Bukit Selambau, V Arumugam.
Kedah BN chairperson Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the BN had never offered any money or persuaded Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblyperson to join the national coalition.
He said that the claims by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak that Arumugam’s resignation was due to pressure because BN had offered him RM5 million to defect, was a wild accusation and an attempt at shifting the blame to the BN.
“No one has come to pressurise him to join the BN; the issue of BN offering money does not arise at all,” he told reporters after meeting the state MIC liaison committee here.
“There are two things here,” Mahdzir said, “Firstly, the PR is facing internal problems and secondly, due to the internal problems, some of PR assemblypersons are leaving to join the BN.”
He said Arumugam was actually having problems with the palace and as a menteri besar, it was Azizan’s responsibility to sort the things out and not point fingers at others.
Mahdzir said that PR was also worried that the political crisis in Perak would spill over to Kedah.
He also questioned the validity of the resignation letter as it was not read out by Arumugam himself.
“Now it is up to the Election Commission to ascertain the validity of Arumugam’s letter,” he said. — Bernama
