The four assemblypersons rumoured to snub a political talk this Saturday organised by PAS for them to publicly pledge their loyalty to the state government, have confirmed their attendance.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 02 However, contrary to media reports, the quartet denied that they are bound to state their allegiance by taking an oath of loyalty in front of Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak ( right ).

The three PKR exco members are S Manikumar (Bukit Selambau assemblyperson), Tan Chow Kang (Sidam) and Lim Soo Nee (Kulim), while their DAP counterpart is Lee Guan Aik (Kota Darul Aman).

Tan and Lim have expressed their dissatisfaction over the rumours of their defection and vowed this would be the last time they would have to respond to the issue.

"I am unhappy with rumours claiming that the PR Chinese assemblypersons have been threatening to quit on issues such as the demolition of the pig abbatoir, housing quota for Malays and Jawi words being used around Kedah. I hope this briefing will put the issue to rest for good," said Tan.

He said the state government provided space for different views on policies which were discussed behind closed doors.

"I have principles. Even when I was in Gerakan previously, I never criticised the party publicly," said Tan.

Last week, the PKR and DAP assemblypersons have been asked to be present at this ceramah entitled "Kedah state assembly to be dissolved?" - at the PAS state head quarters in Kota Sarang Semut.

Rumours are rife that there will be defections in the coming weeks which prompted Azizan to issue a warning that the Kedah state assembly might be dissolved to pave way for a new election if there were more defections.

No loyalty oath

Tan refuted MCA Kedah chief Chong Itt Chew's recent remarks in the media that the quartet would have to take a public oath of loyalty by swearing on the Quran.

"For the PR coalition government of Kedah, the question of one party's loyalty to another does not arise," said Tan.

"For Chong to claim we are going to take the oath by holding on the Quran shows how ignorant he is, and that he has bad intentions (by making this remarks)," he added.

Lim, concurring with Tan, said he will not answer to questions on defections any more after this weekend.

He also denied that he will be swearing on the Quran to prove his loyalty to the PAS-led state government.

"I will definitely not do it (hold Quran to prove loyalty) as I am not a Muslim," he stressed.

NONE Meanwhile, Manikumar ( left ) clarified that the briefing was a normal event and did not involve any oath-taking activity by the assemblypersons.

"Such wild allegations are just rumors like those claiming that the Kedah's PR government will collapse soon," he said.

"The Kedah government is stable and I will stay in the struggle and attend the briefing," he added.

When asked about his attendance at the controversial ceramah initiated by PAS, DAP's Kota Darul Aman assemblyperson Lee Guan Aik merely said "Why not?"

"This issue of asking us to pledge our loyalty to PAS or state government is merely speculation created by certain quarters," he added.

Government "looks very shaky"

In a related development, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang is still adamant that the government "looks very shaky".

"Or else, why does the PAS CM want all the PKR and DAP representatives to attend their ceramah and to pledge their loyalty to everyone, moreover, it is not a Pakatan ceramah , it is organised by PAS," said Keng Liang.

"Why must PAS force them to do this when it is very embarrassing? Imagine if Umno ask me to do this? I am not surprised if the four do not turn up for the ceramah ," he added.

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Keng Liang said if the state wanted an assurance of allegiance from the assemblypersons, it could arrange a ‘closed door meeting'.

"For the Chinese, it is very shameful to have to do this thing because this means we have to ‘kow-tow' to PAS, the dominant party in Kedah. Already PAS in Kedah is having a tough time proving they are multiracial," he added.

Currently, Pakatan has 20 seats - PAS (16), PKR (3) and DAP (1) - out of the 36 in Kedah.

The BN has 14 state seats and needs another three to four defectors from the Pakatan to take back the state, similar to what happened in Perak.