I joined PAS as BN failed to deliver on election promises, says Jailani

 

Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis asked whether the people’s lives have improved following BN’s election promises in the Melaka state election. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis says he felt compelled to join PAS as Barisan Nasional failed to deliver on the promises it made in its 2021 Melaka state election manifesto.

On Tuesday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced that Jailani, who was suspended from Umno, had joined the Islamic party in June 2023, adding that he had not breached the anti-hopping law since Melaka’s enactment was only passed on July 31 that year.

The people of Melaka voted for BN based on the promises we made in the 2021 state election manifesto, especially the Malays, who voted for us on the basis of no cooperation with Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional at that time,

 said Jailani in a statement today.

“My colleagues and I were also promised that no matter what happened, Umno and BN would stand alone. We would be a dignified opposition … no Anwar (Ibrahim), no DAP.

Have the people’s lives improved now that these promises were not kept? We all know the answer to that. There’s no need to deceive ourselves.

He also accused PH of failing to deliver on its 15th general election manifesto.

PH joined forces with BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to form a unity government with the support of MPs from Warisan and Parti Bangsa Malaysia, among others, after GE15 ended in a hung Parliament.

In March 2020, Jailani, who was with PKR, was among four PH assemblymen in Melaka who helped topple the Adly Zahari-led state government, with PN and BN going on to form the state administration.

After quitting PKR and remaining as an independent assemblyman, he was made an executive councillor in the Sulaiman Ali-led Melaka government before officially joining Umno in January 2021.

He defended his Rembia seat on a BN ticket in the November 2021 state election, winning with a 860-vote majority over his nearest rival in a five-cornered contest. He was appointed to a second term as executive councillor as Sulaiman was made chief minister again.

However, after Sulaiman resigned as chief minister in March 2023 and Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh took over the post, Jailani was dropped from the state executive council in a reshuffle.

He then declared that he did not support Rauf as chief minister and was spotted attending PN’s unveiling of its candidates for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.

Jailani was issued a show-cause letter for this and was eventually suspended as an Umno member.

Yesterday, Umno Youth chief and Melaka executive councillor Dr Akmal Saleh claimed that Jailani had to pay the party RM100 million for breaching the agreement he signed as a BN candidate for the 2021 state election.

Earlier today, Rauf said Jailani would have to compensate the party a 

reasonable

 amount of money since he had defected to PAS.

Jailani said he would address the issue at a later date. - FMT