Umno-PKR Tit-For-Tat?
IT’S now the turn of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat to worry about the loyalty and integrity of its elected representatives. It worries that Umno and the Barisan Nasional may be poaching them.
The independent news portal, Malaysiakini, reported that the Perak PKR had accused the Deputy Prime Minister, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, of attempting to entice two of its state executive councilors to defect to Umno.
According to Malaysiakini, over the past few days, rumours have circulated that Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu are quitting PKR. It said the duo, who had gone missing for a few days, have not publicly denied the speculation.
The allegation came only days after the PKR celebrated the defection of the Barisan Nasional State Assemblyman for Bota, Nasaruddin Hashim, to its side.
Whether it turns out to be a tit-for-tat between Umno and the PKR or the latter cooking up a story to test the loyalty of its Wakil Rakyat, this latest development makes for an interesting reading.
But it could also be real. Mohd Najib had just taken over the chairmanship of the Perak Umno Liaison Committee following the resignation of the former Menteri Besar, Tajol Rosli Ghazali, a few days ago. The latter took responsibility for Nasaruddin’s defection.
Tajol Rosli’s resignation is a blessing for Mohd Najib. When he takes over the party and the government next month, God willing, one of the first things Mohd Najib should consider doing is to remove all state liaison chiefs whose states fell to the oppositions in the last year’s general elections.
