Noh: Welcome Badrul, we are ready to fund you
(Bernama) – Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar has welcomed the decision by Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) today, describing it as a brave and wise move.
“He knows his right as an assemblyman. No one can force him to relinquish his post,” he said when asked to comment on the move by Badrul Hisham who not only quit PKR but also announced that the would be a Barisan Nasional-friendly independent assemblyman.
Now that Badrul Hisham had expressed his support towards the BN, he could apply for allocation from the federal government to implement development projects in the Port Klang area, said Noh, who is Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister.
He told Bernama that as an independent assemblyman, Badrul Hisham would need funds to discharge his duties and that was why the BN was ready to assist him.
Although the move by Badrul Hisham did not change the political equation in Selangor, Noh said, it was nevertheless a sign that he was not comfortable being part of the Pakatan government.
With the decision, Pakatan now holds 35 seats of the 56-seat state assembly, with BN holding 20 and independent, one.
Five Selangor BN assemblymen, however, are serving suspension from the state assembly since July this year for criticising the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat).
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo was suspended for a year while four others, namely Datuk Marsum Paing (Dengkil), Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam), Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (Batang Kali) and Datuk Warno Dogol (Sabak) were suspended for six months.
Selangor MIC Youth chief Shanker Raj Ayanger said Badrul Hisham’s decision showed that there were lack of compromise among leaders of the Pakatan government in Selangor.
The move by Badrul Hisham to support the BN was a wise decision as the BN had a strong structure and had proven its capabilities, he said.
Klang MCA division chief Datuk Dr Teh Kim Poo said Badrul Hisham’s departure would not leave a huge impact on the Pakatan government in Selangor.
“I was told that the PKR had been pressurising him to leave the party,” he said.
