Perak PPP claims to be netting Pakatan members

PPP claims to be making inroads in Perak with many from Pakatan Rakyat parties switching their allegiance to the Barisan Nasional component party.

According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T Murugiah, PKR members are disillusioned with the party and the internal fighting in the Pakatan-ruled states of Penang, Selangor and Perak.

He claimed that these former members are happy with the new leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his 1Malaysia theme.

Murugiah also claimed that 150 DAP members from Taiping have submitted their applications to join PPP last Sunday.

Murugiah claims to be the chief of PPP contrary to party president M Kayveas' stand that the former had been officially sacked.

Murugiah was a former supreme council member before he took on Kayveas for the top post, paving the way for a battle of words between the duo.

The Registrar of Societies has come into the picture to decide as to who is the lawful leader of the party.

PKR: PPP members joining us

Meanwhile, Murugiah claimed that he received about 300 applications to join PPP from PKR Ipoh Barat branch members yesterday in Ipoh.

He expects another 700 PKR members to cross over to PPP soon.

Yesterday, about 30 people claiming to be PKR members headed by Sahul Hamid Rowther Mohd Bawa handed the 300 applications at a restaurant in Ipoh.

When contacted, PKR Ipoh Barat division chief Fauzi Muda claimed that Sahul Hamid who joined the party in April was a committee member before he resigned recently.

When told of the so-called crossover of 300 PKR members from his division, Fauzi said that it was not true.

"BN is jealous of PKR that many top leaders from BN are now jumping ship to join PKR.

"In fact about 400 PPP members in Bercham have submitted their application forms to us and we are expanding our membership more with the setting up of 30 PKR branches in Bercham," he counterclaimed.

Perak PKR deputy chief Chang Lih Kang stated that Murugiah should provide concrete proof of the crossovers instead of just making claims.

"If such members do not believe in our political struggle then they are free to join what ever party they want," he added.

DAP Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming could not be reached for comment.