Two Perak DAP state representatives have denied strong rumours that they will be following the footsteps of Malim Nawar assemblyperson Keshvinder Singh, who resigned from the party yesterday.

Kepayang assemblyperson Loke Chee Yan and Buntong representative A Sivasubramaniam denied suggestions that they were also ditching DAP.

S Kesavan (PKR-Hutan Melintang), also rumoured to defect because he was allegedly incommunicado, is reportedly unwell and has also denied the speculations.  

Perak Pakatan Rakyat has been plagued by talk of defections ever since the BN overthrew the state government in February 2009.

ganesan perak state assembly speaker 070509 02 At the time, defections of Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) both formerly PKR, and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang, bottom left in photo ) from the DAP, led to the downfall of the Perak Pakatan government.

Loke, when contacted by Malaysiakini , quashed rumours that he would be next, saying his presence with the state DAP leadership in parliament today was proof of his loyalty.

“I know my name has been bandied around along with the Hutan Melintang representative.

“That is untrue! I am committed to the DAP cause. Whatever was said ... by some media today, that I may be next, is totally untrue,” he said.

He also maintained that he could still be reached at the same handphone number. ‘I have not switched numbers,” he said, to rumours that the assemblypersons’ refusal to answer calls was a sign that they were ready to jump.

Rumoured defectors contactable

In a related development, DAP vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran also denied Sivasubramaniam was defecting.

y4c nep forum 060207 m kulasegaran “I talked to him last night and there is no truth to the rumour that he would be leaving the party. This is the work of the BN, who could be trying to split the party up,” said Kulasegaran ( left ), who is also the Ipoh Barat MP and Perak DAP deputy chief.

Perak PKR chairperson Mustaffa Kamil Ayub also rubbished rumours about Kesavan.

“I just talked to him this morning. He denied to me that he would be leaving the party. Kesavan maintains that this was the work of rumour-mongers who are out to destroy the Pakatan spirit in the wake of Keshvinder’s departure,” he said.

The Perak PKR supremo also explained that Kesavan did not entertain any calls yesterday because he was suffering from mouth ulcers.

“But he answered my call when he recognised my number. I feel there is no truth to such rumours.”

Pakatan Perak had been under tremendous pressure following the departure of the Changkat Jering, Behrang and Jelapang elected representatives.