KUALA LUMPUR - PKR vice president Tian Chua has confirmed news reports that 2 of the party's elected representatives have decided to quit and become BN-friendly Independents.
"They were bought over. We have tried to advise them but even though they know it is a betrayal of voters' wishes, they don't care," Tian told Malaysia Chronicle.
The Batu MP was referring to Kadamaian state assemblyman Jeremy Malajad and Matunggong assemblyman Jelani Hamdan.
Both reps have blamed Lajim Ukim, the Sabah PKR chief, for their decision. Lajim is due to issue a statement later tonight.
"It is just an excuse. They have sold out to Umno and Umno has an axe to grind with Lajim who was one of their former supreme council members," a Sabah PKR insider toldMalaysia Chronicle.
"Both men are first-time ADUNs and they were easily swayed by the offers they must have received."
Umno slowing buying over Pakatan reps?
Sabah PKR is abuzz with the news. Many members point to the "open secret" that Jeremy was facing financial problems and had difficulty getting resources to serve the seat.
"But the mastermind is probably Jelani, whose wife s now the Ketua (head) of the Wanita Umno there," alleged the PKR source.
Kadamaian is one of three state constituencies located within Kota Belud, which is also Sabah Umno’s birthplace. Kota Belud is held by Abdul Rahman Dahlan, the federal Minister for Housing and Local Government.
Malajad, one of the 7 PKR candidates voted into the Sabah state assembly, had won the seat with a wafer-thin majority of 889 votes.
Jelani won his Matunggong seat with an even smaller majority of 320 votes. The constituency is part of the Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency.
Apart from PKR, DAP has been affected by several defections. One of the first was also from Sabah, with Luyang rep Hiew King Chew quitting the party last month.
MORE TO COME
Malaysia Chronicle
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