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The No. 4696 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

curious Friday
case of
February 13, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com

Ormond » Nizar to vacate MB’s residence ‘in 10 days’ pg3 » Messi magic freezes French pg28 Sports
pg16

EPAPIX
Vigilant
in Selangor
by Terence Fernandez
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Senior PR leaders claimed that apart from
offers of money, one or two members were
also being “blackmailed” with corruption
Act of love
... She ain’t heavy,
she’s my partner sums
up this public display
of love. Apart from
the abundance of
roses, heart-shaped

S
Badrul ... denies meeting HAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is now
Umno leader. Said rumour vigilant in Selangor as it is learnt that
spread to create confusion Barisan Nasional (BN) is trying to get
in the PR government. at least seven assemblymen to either
cross over or leave their parties.
The case of “missing” Port Klang assembly-
man Badrul Hisham Abdullah of Parti Keadilan
Rakyat had sparked talk that BN agents are
on overdrive to reclaim the state the coalition
lost in the general election – buoyed by their
success in wresting Perak last week.
However, Badrul Hisham called a press
conference yesterday to rubbish claims by
Klang PKR information chief Aziz Johari that he
had met a Klang Umno division leader.
He said the rumour was spread by certain
people to create confusion in the PR govern-
ment in Selangor and he had met the party’s
top leadership to explain all issues that had
cropped up about him.
Asked if he had been offered to cross over,
he said he had not received any offer and he
had not thought of jumping to another party,
Bernama reported.
On claims that he was “missing” lately and
difficult to contact or hardly met constituents,
he said: “I am in my area.”
Rumours of On other claims he did not receive state al-
me crossing locations and was involved in a khalwat (close
over to Gerakan had proximity) case, he said: “No, I did not do it.”
been there since At the same time, it is learnt that BN,
1996 but I can tell particularly MCA and Gerakan, is milking
the discontent of state DAP leaders among
you that I am not themselves as well as with the national
crossing over to the leadership and with senior state assembly
BN.” officials. At least one executive councillor is
– Teng Chang Khim being courted.
charges for alleged abuse of power.
The BN, which has 20 seats against PR’s
36, needs only obtain nine defectors to form a
simple majority in the state legislature.
A meeting held at the official residence of
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim last
night was geared towards identifying repre-
sentatives, including MPs who may have some
beef with the leadership of their respective
parties and to iron out outstanding issues.
The three-hour meeting was a cordial affair
where everyone present agreed on the need
for open and frank communication so as to
allay any misunderstanding among the leaders
that will confuse and worry the voters.
Except for disgruntled Kapar MP S. Man-
ickavasagam and several representatives who
were overseas, all assemblymen and parlia-
mentarians attended the dinner meeting.
It was decided there was no need to sign
any oath of allegiance because ultimately “the
allegiance is more towards the voters”.
It was also agreed that such meetings
should be held more regularly to straighten
out issues and to avoid confusion, as well as to
keep everyone in check, said a source.
As chief executive of the state, Abdul Kha-
lid also heads PR in Selangor. He had told a
news conference on Wednesday the meeting
would also discuss how allocations to elected
representatives could be better spent.
Of late, there had been murmurs among
several assemblymen over the amount and
method of disbursement of the allocations.
Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman and executive
councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and the
environment,ElizabethWong of PKR,said she was
confident one will not see a repeat of
Perak where the PR government fell fol-
lowing the resignation of one DAP and
two PKR assemblymen from their parties,
and throwing their support behind BN.
She accused BN of waging a psycho-
logical war to make PR politicians suspi-
cious of one another. “I am not unduly
worried as from what we see in Perak, it
is clear to all that anyone who jumps or
causes the state government to fall will
be hounded till the end of the world.”
PKR’s Seri Setia assemblyman and
Abdul Khalid’s political secretary, Nik
Nazmi Nik Ahmad, dismissed these
overtures as BN propaganda. “They are
using the media to propagate this hype
but we are quite certain we will not see
a repeat of Perak,” he said.
Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng
Chang Khim of DAP said the only
ornaments and
chocolate, it’s a sign
that Valentine’s Day
is around the corner.
The couple were taking
part in a wife-carrying
race which required
participants to jump
mini-hurdles along an
obstacle course in a
Hongkong shopping
mall on Thursday.
attempt to woo him was in March last
year when he was not appointed as an
executive councillor. “Rumours of me
crossing over to Gerakan had been there
since 1996 but I can tell you that I am
not crossing over to the BN,” he said.
He admitted he had differences with
several DAP leaders but said it was wrong
to say he was being marginalised by the
party. He also said PKR, DAP and PAS had
a “very good working relationship”.
“We have had four BBC (Backbench-
ers’ Club) meetings since October and
the attendance has been good. Even
Badrul Hisham was there.”
Teng, who is state assembly speaker,
said in the case of the alleged blackmail,
he was confident the assemblyman
concerned would rather thrash it out in
court than earn the people’s wrath by
jumping ship.