Perak won’t consider errant duo as state reps

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

Both Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Osman Jailu will not be admitted as assemblymen in the Perak state assembly although the Election Commission has ruled out by-elections for their Behrang and Changkat Jering seats, senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said tonight.

The Perak DAP chief also said both also cannot count as Barisan Nasional representatives if they decide to defect. Jamaluddin has since announced he has quit PKR, which forms the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak with DAP and Pas.

Ngeh said the duo cannot return to the assembly as state speaker V Sivakumar has decided that they have resigned.

He made the comments after news of Jamaluddin quitting PKR made its rounds, reigniting speculation that the duo will be defecting to Umno. The went missing on Jan 26, a day after Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasharudin Hashim crossed from Umno to PKR.  Both Jamaluddin and Osman are facing corruption charges next week and critics believe their defection will lead to the charges being dropped.

If the duo do decide to jump to Umno, the Pakatan Rakyat government headed by Menteri Besar Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin would only hold a razor-thin majority of one in the 59-seat assembly.

But refusing the two membership in the assembly would give the electoral pact some breathing space.

“Thirty against 27 is still a majority,” Ngeh said.

In this scenario, even if rumoured defections from DAP were to occur, it would not necessarily trigger a change in government in Perak. The assembly is also due to meet only in April.