Suspended PKR rep's 'meeting' with Umno and PAS fuels speculation

Suspended PKR state assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin has purportedly called for a meeting with Penang state representatives.

Malaysiakini sighted a media alert that hinted plans for the meeting to be held at the former state exco's service centre at Bukit Mertajam City Mall at 5pm, with a  "sensational news" expected to be announced later.

The alert quoted internal sources and listed the contact number of the person  supposedly in charge of calling the meeting.

When contacted, the person who identified himself as Afif's special officer confirmed the meeting but added that no formal invitation was sent to the media.

"It is true that a meeting is scheduled to be held this evening but there will be no press conference.

"But since it (the alert) has gone viral, you are welcomed to be at BM City Mall at 5pm today," said the officer who wished to be known only as "Hery".

He added that plans for the meeting have been kept "secret" over the past week but had somehow leaked. 

While its main agenda remains unclear, the meeting comes amid a backdrop of shifting allegiances and political uncertainties fuelled by a power transition between Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

Several state assemblypersons contacted by Malaysiakini denied knowledge of the meeting.

Another source, however, claimed the meeting was called to plan on how they could be a "good opposition in Penang" after their numbers increased from three to six in the 40-seat state assembly.

Malaysiakini has contacted Afif for response.

The Seberang Jaya assemblyperson was suspended from PKR early last month as part of the party's purge against those known to be aligned with former party deputy president Azmin Ali after he triggered the "Sheraton Move" which led to the downfall of the Harapan coalition government.

Since then, Afif, along with Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hilman Idham, has founded a new NGO dubbed Pemuda Negara, with a line-up of state coordinators that feature names previously affiliated with PKR.

PKR has yet to decide on Afif's membership status but the second term elected representative had to quit his state exco post following Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's advice.

The state Harapan council has also relegated Afif and two other Bersatu state assemblypersons to the opposition block. - Mkini