Just as the defection dust is settling in Perak, several Pakatan Rakyat state representatives have come forward to claim that the new Barisan Nasional state government is not done fishing for defectors.
According to Pakatan sources, BN is in urgent need of non-Malay state representatives to cross over in order to avoid an overwhelmingly mono-ethnic BN line-up.
BN has 27 representatives from Umno and one from MCA. Of its three 'friendly' independents, two are Malay while one is Chinese.
One non-Malay Pakatan state representative claimed that an individual claiming to be a representative from BN made him a lucrative offer yesterday.
The package included a position on the state executive council (exco) line-up and RM3 million.
"All I had to do was become an independent and support BN without having to join any of their parties. He said that if I was an exco, I could service the people better," said the state representative on condition of anonymity last night.
He added that he was then instructed to approach another non-Malay Pakatan state representative in order to convince him to defect.
The second non-Malay Pakatan state rep was offered RM4 million. The RM1 million extra was because the package did not include an exco post.
Defectors face public persecution
A third non-Malay Pakatan state representative interviewed today said that he had received offers since March last year but offers intensified over the past week.
"They were telling me the benefits. They promised me an exco post but lately, there has been no mention of money," he said.
The state rep also said that he was once scolded for repeatedly turning down lucrative offers.
"My position is that the people voted for me and my party. If I were to take the offers, I would be betraying the voters," he added.
Should any more Pakatan assemblypersons choose to defect, they are likely to face the same public backlash faced by the three Pakatan representatives who defected to help form the new BN government earlier this week.
At a separate function in Kampung Simmee today, newly appointed Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir brushed off suggestions that his almost mono-ethnic state line-up would cause problems.
"Definitely, I will take care of all three main racial groups," he said.
Additional reporting from Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
1 comment:
you never give ur opinion on this, basically u already got the answer...
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