'Biggest betrayer': Johor PKR dep chief slams Bersatu

JOHOR BARU: Johor PKR deputy chief Jimmy Puah Wee Tse has described former Pakatan Harapan partner, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), as the "biggest betrayer".

The Bukit Batu assemblyman also accused former Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal of trying to entice him to crossover and support the new coalition of Umno, Bersatu, MIC and PAS.

“I was called up by Dr Sahruddin to his residence on Tuesday (Feb 25) at around 10.30am, where he asked me to jump into the new coalition.

“When I heard it from him, I was very upset and immediately left. And that is the last time I spoke to him, ” he said when met during a PKR Chinese New Year gathering at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah here on Friday night (Feb 28).

Puah, formerly a state executive councillor in the Pakatan administration, added that he did not blame Umno, PAS, MIC and MCA for the change of government in Johor.

He said the blame should fall on Bersatu as they betrayed Pakatan.

“Some of Bersatu leaders also tried to offer monetary gains to Pakatan assemblymen for them to cross over, but I'm very proud that all of us rejected them.

“We are looking at lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) over this matter, ” he added.

Puah also said the state Pakatan would be having a meeting soon and would be issuing a statement following the appointment of Johor Umno chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad as the new Mentri Besar.

Earlier, Hasni, the Benut assemblyman, was sworn in as the 18th Mentri Besar before Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar at Istana Bukit Serene here.

This came after the new coalition got a simple majority in the state assembly following Bersatu's move to pull out of Pakatan in Johor.

Sultan Ibrahim’s private secretary, Datuk Jaba Mohd Noah, in a media statement said that His Majesty was satisfied with the new coalition having a simple majority during his personal meeting with the state assemblymen on Wednesday (Feb 26).

“During the meeting, a total of 28 supported the new coalition while 26 supported Pakatan Harapan.

“Two assemblymen were absent, namely the Simpang Jeram assemblyman and Puteri Wangsa assemblyman, ” he said.

Johor has 56 state assemblymen.