Pakatan to blame for causing Melaka election, says PKR MP

JOHOR BARU: A PKR lawmaker is blaming Melaka Pakatan Harapan for playing a crucial role in the dissolution of the state assembly resulting in a state election.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim (pic) said many might not agree with him but he must make his stand known for them to reflect together.

“Since the start of this crisis, I do not agree with the behaviour shown by Melaka Pakatan, which dragged the crisis even further until the dissolution of the state assembly and forcing an election.

“I too believe that Pakatan central leadership also failed in managing the crisis well where they failed to give the right guidance and leadership,” he said in a statement here on Tuesday (Oct 19).

Hassan, who is the former Johor PKR chairman, added that what had happened in Melaka was a fiasco not only towards Melaka Pakatan but Pakatan itself as a whole.

Meanwhile, Johor PKR deputy chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse urged his party to do the right thing in the Melaka state election.

In a Facebook post, the Bukit Batu assemblyman said the party should throw away the “frogs” and not give chances to political prostitutes.

A state election has been called in Melaka after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional-led state government on Oct 4.

Before the dissolution of the 28-seat Melaka state assembly, Umno had 13 seats, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s two, and two Independents (Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis and Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee).

The state government collapsed after Melaka’s former chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron announced that he and three other assemblymen – Pantai Kundor’s Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Umno), Telok Mas’ Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu) and Norhizam – withdrew their support for chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

The Opposition was made up of seven assemblymen from DAP, two from PKR and two from Amanah.

Idris, Nor Azman, Noor Effandi, and Norhizam Hassan were reportedly given a heroes' welcome at a Pakatan event which PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also attended on Monday (Oct 18) night.

All eyes are on seven seats in particular, including the four which assemblymen triggered the political crisis, where political observers anticipate multi-cornered fights.

Melaka state polls will be held on Nov 20 and nomination day will be on Nov 8.