No money involved, says Najib

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today denied having offered the four former Perak Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons cash for their defection from their respective parties.

Speaking to reporters at a packed press conference at his office today, Najib said there was never a question of BN ‘buying’ the four over.

"No, no, no. There was no buying over," Najib told reporters after announcing that BN now had the majority to form the new Perak government following the four’s defection.

Three of the four- Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), Osman Jailu (PKR- Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang) - after ‘disappearing’ for several days had made sudden announcements through the media that they had resigned from their parties and had become independent representatives.

The last of the four, Umno’s Nasarudin Hashim, who hopped over to PKR only ten days ago, also made a sudden announcement that he would be rejoining his former party.

The ‘disappearance’ of the four had prompted several leaders from Pakatan Rakyat to accuse BN of abducting them and forcing them to defect.

Speculations that the four were offered a lucrative cash reward should they defect were also rife.

Graft charges 'irrelevant'

The speculations came together with allegations that two of the four, Jamaluddin and Osman, both of whom have been charged with graft and abusing their power as Perak state exco members, would be let off the hook should they decide to defect.

Najib, however, denied that the BN-led federal government had made any such offer saying that the graft charges against the two matter was of no relevance.

"It is a separate issue. It has nothing to do with this (their defection and BN taking over Perak)...that is a separate issue," he said.

Below are excerpts from the question and answer session which followed Najib’s press conference at Putrajaya this evening:

Question: When are you meeting the Sultan (of Perak)?

Najib: As soon as possible.

As soon as possible meaning a day or two?

Yes.

What if the sultan wants to dissolve the state assembly as proposed by the current Perak menteri besar ?

That is the prerogative of the sultan.

There were speculations that the crossover involved a ‘buying over’?

No, no, no. There was no buying over.

So BN now has a three seat majority in the Perak state assembly?

Yes. We have 31 seats against 28 but the speaker cannot vote so actually its 27 (for Pakatan Rakyat).

Will the Behrang and Changkat Jering state assemblypersons still be facing the corruption charges (now that they have defected)?

That’s a separate issue. It has nothing to do with this [...] that is a separate issue. I cannot answer that.

What if the current Perak menteri besar announces that the state assembly has been dissolved?

That is the sole power of the sultan to decide on and not the menteri besar’s.

Are you ready to face state elections in Perak?

Whatever the sultan decides. We’ll wait and see.

Will the three be joining Umno and BN or will they remain as independent?

They will remain as independents but as BN-friendly independents (representatives). Independents that would support BN.

Do you have a choice yet as to who will become the new BN menteri besar for Perak?

Not yet but it will be decided soon.

Can you clarify when you say that BN has 28 seats and Pakatan also has 28 seats but with three remaining independent how can you have a majority?

(The three independents) would support BN in the state assembly. In the case where there is a need to vote on any issue in the state assembly, they would support us. Whatever we decide on they will support us and they will defend the BN state government.

You are sidestepping the issue of their reasons behind their defection.

They have lost confidence in their parties and also in the current menteri besar.

Are you going to coax them to join BN or Umno?

That will depend on the progress of time. But what is important is that they will continue to support BN.

Will there be any more representatives from Pakatan joining BN or Umno?

We’ll wait and see. We’ll see the developments.

The fact that there are now three BN-friendly independents, does that cast a moral shadow on BN?

No. We did not start this. Somebody wanted to form the (federal) government on Sept 16.

Do you see the BN takeover as a setback for Pakatan?

It is certain that they did not anticipate this to happen but they have stated their principles of forming a (new federal) government without respecting the democratic process so they cannot blame BN.

When did you meet with the three defectors?

There’s no need to know when. Night or day, you don’t need to know.

Is this takeover a personal feat for you?

No I don’t consider it as a personal feat. Maybe it’s all just a coincidence.

What if the sultan asks for a coalition state government (comprising BN and Pakatan)?

Well, we have to wait and see. We have the majority.

There are speculations that all three were forced or had to make their defections under duress?

No. They all made it out of free will. You can ask them.