PR holds ground, won’t concede to BN

(NST) Pakatan Rakyat is holding its ground, rubbishing talk that it is losing control of Perak.

PKR information chief Tian Chua has stressed that they do not view a shift of power to the Barisan Nasional as a possibility.

“As of now the Pakatan Rakyat is still the legitimate government of Perak and there is no issue of a new government taking over,” he said.

Tian Chua acknowledged that the fate of their coalition, shaken by defections of four assemblymen yesterday, now rests in the hands of the Sultan of Perak.

He noted, however. that they are one step ahead of the BN as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Perak BN chief, has yet to seek an audience with the sultan.

“We have informed the sultan of our intention to dissolve the assembly. Najib has yet to present to the sultan his claimed majority, and it is up to their new MB (menteri besar) to convince the ruler that they can rule the state well,” he said.

Tian Chua said that under a constitutional monarchy, the MB of the day would advise the palace on the best course of action in such situations.

“We hope the palace will see the views of the people … we believe an election will be the best way to determine who the people want as their government,” he said.