Zambry’s claim astounds house

(NST) MENTERI Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Kadir stunned assemblymen at the house yesterday when he revealed Pakatan Rakyat had offered him the menteri besar’s post after it formed the state government following its victory in the 2008 polls.

The Pangkor assemblyman, in his winding up speech, said Pakatan’s top leadership had approached him and persuaded him to defect, and as a reward he would be appointed menteri besar.

He said the offer was made before Datuk Seri Muhammad Nizar Jamaluddin was sworn-in as menteri besar.

“They contacted me and offered the post. They even sent messengers to my house to persuade me to jump ship and accept the offer.

“I rejected it … it is a matter of principle … my commitment is to Umno and Barisan Nasional. I did not enter politics to become a menteri besar,” he said.

Earlier, Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali (BN-Pengkalan Hulu), during the debate on the motion of thanks, said three Umno assemblymen were persuaded to cross over and offered the menteri besar’s post.

Opposition assemblymen walk out of Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan, boycotting the Perak state assembly sitting yesterday. — NST picture by Ikhwan Munir

“This was when Pakatan was still trying to form the state government after the 2008 general election.

“The three assemblyman told me of the offer. They assured me that they would stay with the BN,” he said. He, however, did not reveal the names of the assemblymen.

Tajol Rosli also said there was an attempt to form a unity government in Perak after the 2008 polls, which was given the go-ahead by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, but was objected by several other Pas leaders.

“Pas then used this issue to demand the menteri besar’s post from DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, otherwise Pas would team up with Umno,” he said.