Pakatan mulls snap polls
Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has conceded that Pakatan Rakyat, which has a one-seat majority in the state government, is considering the possibility of dissolving the state assembly to pave the way for snap polls.
Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has conceded that Pakatan Rakyat, which has a one-seat majority in the state government, is considering the possibility of dissolving the state assembly to pave the way for snap polls.
"We are in process of thinking about it. (You'll know) when the time comes," he said in response to a question.
Mohd Nizar was speaking to reporters late last night after chairing a meeting at his official residence in Ipoh attended by most of the Pakatan state representatives and top state leaders from PAS, DAP and PKR.
Yesterday, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang) and Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) 'defected', leaving the coalition with just 30 seats in the 59-seat state assembly.
Barisan Nasional merely needs the duo and another representative to join the coalition in order to wrest back the state from Pakatan and end its 10-month reign.
Although the state government may call for snap polls to prevent BN from enticing crossovers, Pakatan's next step to resolve the fragile situation is to seek legal redress against the Election Commission’s decision not to recognise the 'resignations' of Jamaluddin and Osman.
'Hee's still with us'
Perak senior exco member Ngeh Khoo Ham, who was also at the press conference, said Pakatan intends to compel the EC to call by-elections for the two seats 'vacated' by the duo.
"We will file for a judicial review and apply for leave to obtain a mandamus from the court to compel the EC to carry out its public duty," said the state DAP head.
On Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong's subtle hints that she is unhappy with the Pakatan leadership, in particular DAP, Mohd Nizar said disagreements are normal in any alliance.
"That is very normal in Pakatan Rakyat. We are very happy with that actually. I have disagreed with my party and its leadership (before). It is part and parcel of the process (of democracy)," he said.
On Hee's whereabouts, since she was not at the meeting, Mohd Nizar jokingly replied in Cantonese: "Ngor mm chee (I don't know)".
"We have contacted her. She has some matters to attend to. She is with us (as a team)," he said, adding that Hee was busy with family matters.
Rumours are rife that Hee will quit DAP and become an Independent. The rumours intensified after she skipped an important state function yesterday morning.
Attempts to contact Hee and her husband today were futile. Journalists have even staked out her house and the DAP Jelapang service centre to no avail.
Speaker: I've absolute authority
Meanwhile, Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar told the same press conference that he had received the 'resignation letters' from Jamaluddin and Osman in two separate envelopes at his house.
He said that an unidentified messenger came to his house in a car on Feb 1 and passed him the envelopes and said: "These are very important documents for you."
It was earlier reported that the 'resignation letters' - believed to have been sent from the PKR headquarters - were faxed to the Perak speaker.
Sivakumar stressed that he had absolute authority to declare the Behrang and Changkat Jering seats vacant after being satisfied with the letters.
He added that the duo will not be allowed to enter the House as elected representatives when the state assembly reconvenes in April.
"They can sit at the public gallery," Mohd Nizar noted.
