Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today the lack of understanding among Pakatan leaders was getting more obvious in states administered by the coalition.

He cited the decision of Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh to quit PKR and be an independent in the Kedah state assembly as the latest indication of the Pakatan leaders not seeing eye to eye in many matters.

Radzhi announced today he was quitting PKR to become an independent after having lost confidence in the party leadership and in keeping with the decision of the Padang Serai PKR division to dissolve.

najib 100 day bash 110709 najib 02 "The Kedah (Pakatan) government is still in power but the loss of an executive councillor raises many questions about the integrity of the state government," Najib told reporters after presenting dividends to participants of the Risda new cluster planting and commercial replanting programmes in Pekan, Pahang.

Najib was asked to comment on the decision of Radzhi to quit PKR, along with Padang Serai PKR division acting chief Jamaludin Abu Hassan and about 200 members of the division.

"I have yet to see the full statement but he has made the decision to quit on his own free will without being influenced by any quarters, including Umno. We have to respect his decision as an elected representative," he said.

Asked whether there would be allegations that Umno had orchestrated the quit decision, Najib said Umno could expect that but in this case it was the elected representative's own decision to quit.

Najib said the people could draw their own conclusions on the Pakatan administration in the states they had won in the last general election.

"The latest case is one incidence of the lack of understanding in the Pakatan governments in only one year of administration," he said.

Unlike BN, Pakatan can't control its reps

Asked whether Radzhi’s resignation could have a positive effect on BN’s chances in the Permatang Pasir state by-election in Penang on Tuesday, he laughed and said: "Wait and see. The people have to evaluate the matter themselves."

Najib said that unlike BN, the opposition parties could not control their elected representatives, and there was lack of understanding in many matters, including in terms of ideology and principles.

"We see that they are not aligned in various issues connected with ideology and principles and the conflicting views are wide and deep," he said.

Also present at the function were Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, and Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Mohd Shafie, who is the chairman of the Kedah Umno liaison committee, said Radzhi's decision to quit PKR did not have anything to do with Umno.

- Bernama