DAP man raises spectre of BN-PN pact in Melaka

 Kerk Chee Yee points to the support for the introduction of appointed assemblymen in the state by PAS and Wawasan.

Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee said the cooperation between Umno and PAS began in the Johor election, is continuing into the Negeri Sembilan state polls, and may also extend to Melaka. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A DAP leader has questioned if Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional are on the verge of reaching another pact, this time in Melaka, following the passage of a bill to allow seven unelected assemblymen in the Melaka assembly.

Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee pointed out that the state government’s bill was supported by the three assemblymen from PN, describing this as odd.

“The only other time they have supported a motion by the state government was a motion to raise assemblymen’s salaries, because that was in their interest,” he said in a Facebook post.

PN has three assemblymen in Melaka – PAS’s Jailani Khamis (Rembia), Bersatu’s Dr Aleef Yusof (Sg Udang) and Parti Wawasan Negara’s Dr Yadzil Yaakub (Bemban).

Aleef is an ally of Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin.

DAP pulled out of the Umno-led state government to protest against the bill.

Kerk asked if PAS had supported the bill in return for appointments to the assembly.

The Melaka DAP publicity secretary also questioned if the only reason PAS and Umno had not worked together before in the state was the issue of seat allocation.

He said Umno and PAS’s cooperation began in the Johor state election, is continuing into the Negeri Sembilan state election, and may also extend to Melaka.

Umno and PAS did not have an explicit pact in the Johor polls, although PAS urged members and supporters to support BN candidates in seats not contested by PN.

However, BN and PN have reached a formal pact for the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan state election with both coalitions agreeing not to clash.

BN is contesting 25 seats while the PAS-led PN is vying for the remaining 11.

Bersatu, a PN component, has decided to contest under its own banner in the election, protesting against the purportedly unilateral decision to work with BN. - FMT