I want to see stability in Perak, says Nasarudin

PUTRAJAYA: Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim said his decision to return to the Barisan Nasional was made after considering “the unstable and confusing political situation in Perak.”

Nasarudin, who left Barisan to join PKR on Jan 25, said his decision was also made out of respect for his constituents and in the name of democracy.

“After considering the advice and views of my political partners and those who would like to see a stable political situation and government in Perak, I’m returning to Umno and the Barisan Nasional from today,” he told a press conference at the office of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Earlier, Najib, who is Barisan deputy chairman, announced that Nasarudin had rejoined Barisan.

Najib also announced that Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi had resigned from the PKR to become independents.

He said DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong had also left the party to become an independent.

All four assemblymen were pre- sent at the press conference.

Mohd Osman said he was “very disappointed with the way he was treated.”

“Even before I tendered my resignation letter, PKR had submitted my resignation to the (State Assembly) Speaker on my behalf.

“I was ‘sacked’ by the party which never discussed it with me,” he said, adding that he decided to become an independent assemblyman on Tues- day.

He said he had no plans to join Barisan and would serve his constituency without being affiliated to any party.

Jamaluddin said there was force to chase him out of PKR when the Speaker, who is from the DAP, got his hands on his resignation letter.

“The letter was signed in March and kept by the Perak PKR. How did the Speaker get his hands on the letter?

“If the party has such intentions, what am I waiting for?” he said.

Asked if he had any disagreement with other state assemblymen which made him want to leave, he replied: “I just found that as a state executive councillor, there are a few things that I need to point out but people do not want to listen to my advice.”

On Monday, the Election Com- mission received a letter from State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar notifying of a vacancy for the Changkat Jering and Behrang state seats.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said no by-election would be held for the two seats.

Hee, who looked a little distressed, declined to make any comment.

She fuelled speculation about crossing over after she was said to have gone “missing” and could not be contacted for several hours on Sunday.