Updated on 5 Feb 2009 at 11.45am
IPOH, 5 Feb 2009: Datuk Seri Najib Razak returned to Istana Kinta at 10.55am, a half hour after leaving it this morning, together with the four assemblypersons who left Pakatan Rakyat, to meet the Perak Sultan.
The four are Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), the DAP’s Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang), and Bota assemblyperson Datuk Nasarudin Hashim who rejoined Umno yesterday after defecting to PKR on 25 Jan.
Najib who is the deputy prime minister, and also Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) chairperson, arrived earlier at 9.49am, accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Perak BN deputy chairperson Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Najib is seeking the Ruler’s consent for the BN to form the state government after the four Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives left the state government to support the BN.
Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman, and Hee resigned from their parties yesterday to be “friendly” independents, supporting the BN.
With the latest developments, the BN now has 28 seats, the same as Pakatan Rakyat, in the 59-seat state assembly.
Yesterday, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin also had an audience with Sultan Azlan to request for the state assembly to be dissolved so that Perak could hold fresh polls.
Najib and Ahmad Zahid originally left the palace at 10.30am today. After meeting the Sultan with the four assemblypersons, Najib left again at 11.30am.
It is up to Sultan Azlan Shah whether to dissolve the state assembly or invite the BN to form the new state government. The Sultan could also ask for a grand coalition government — comprising both the Pakatan Rakyat and the BN — to be formed. — Bernama
Mr Smith says
I am sure the sultan will ask the four frogs why they defected and if they had sought their constituents’ consent. Nasarudin will have a lot of explaining to do. The sultan might ask if there was inducement. With a legal mind he can detect lies and cheats.
The ruler might ask if they are willing to return to their constituents to see a fresh mandate.
Nicholas.C says
I hope the reason the Sultan met the four defectors was to give them a shelling. Otherwise this is not a good sign.