Digest on Malaysian News

The Barisan Nasional (BN) made its case for taking over the Perak state government today when a PKR state assemblyman defected back to Umno while three independents pledged their support for the coalition.

Jamaludin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu, Hee Yit Foong will back a BN government while Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who had just two weeks earlier defected to PKR returned back to 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 extra who are friendly to Umno and BN,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

All four assemblymen appeared at the press cobnference with Najib.

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

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

More PKR lawmakers are expected to defect to BN.

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From TheStar

Perak govt falls, BN claims majority

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has just left Istana Kinta and told reporters that it was up to Sultan Azlan Shah to choose to dissolve the State Assembly or not. He will be holding a press conference at 6pm.

Barisan Nasional now commands the majority to form the state government in Perak with the return of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim and the support of three independents -- Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said he would be seeking an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah in a day or two to inform him of Barisan's ability to form the new state government. Barisan and Pakatan now have 28 seats each. The three independents support Barisan, Najib said.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is still in audience with Sultan Azlan Shah to seek his consent to dissolve the state assembly. He was seen entering Istana Kinta at 3:50pm.

Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, DAP's Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong and Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim spotted at the office of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin left Istana Kinta at 5.40pm and told reporters that it was now up to Sultan Azlan Shah to decide if the state assembly is to be dissolved.

Perak assemblymen Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering)have quit PKR and Jamaluddin said on Wednesday that they were on the way to Putrajaya to join Umno.

Speculation is also rife that DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong has defected or at least quit the party.

In the March 8 national polls, PKR won Perak with 32 seats against 27 Barisan seats.

On Tuesday, Nizar had reiterated that he would not be calling for state elections given the political developments of the past week but was prepared for any by-election.

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From MalaysiaInsider

BN set to form Perak govt as Sultan defers decision on dissolution


IPOH, Feb 4 – 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 extra 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.

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