Afif: I was at Sheraton to monitor and report back to CM

Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin admitted being at Sheraton Hotel on Feb 23 but said his task there was to "monitor" the situation.

Afif (above), who just quit his post as state executive councillor, said his presence at the hotel was known to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and PKR.

"I was there to monitor the situation and after that, I reported the matter to the chief minister," he said in a press conference at his house in Taman Pauh, Bukit Mertajam.

"I did that because what happened in Sheraton would have an impact on Penang. I have always been around during important events like this.

"Since Pakatan Harapan took over, I have always acted as a liaison between the state and federal governments," Afif added.

The Sheraton Move was said to be initiated by former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (photo) to topple nemesis Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Harapan government.

Azmin's faction met with Umno and PAS MPs at the hotel to garner support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

However, Harapan collapsed after Mahathir quit his post as he refused to work with Umno en bloc, while Bersatu pulled out of the coalition.

After a weak of turmoil, Bersatu acting chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the eighth prime minister, with Umno, PAS and Azmin's faction in his team.

Meanwhile, Afif claimed that his resignation was pressured by PKR leadership due to his long alliance with Azmin.

He said Chow, who was pressured by PKR, had advised him to quit his post, which he had held for seven years.

Afif added that he understood Chow's position and thanked the chief minister for his understanding.

"I am still in PKR and will remain so until the party decides on my position. I will continue to serve Seberang Jaya voters as their assemblyperson because that was the mandate given to me," he said. - Mkini