The defection of PKR elected representatives is expected to be a topic of discussion at the party's three-day congress beginning in Kota Bharu Saturday.

Sources said there is a fear that the toppling of the Pakatan Perak government by the Barisan Nasional (BN) resulting from crossovers could be repeated in Pakatan-led Kedah.

"It is inevitable that the matter has to be given some serious discussion," they said.

Pakatan holds 20 of the 36 seats in the Kedah state assembly, the BN has 14 and the two independent assemblymen are said to be pro-BN. Of the 20 Pakatan seats, PAS holds 16, the PKR, three and DAP, one.

Only three elected representatives have to defect to BN for the state government to fall.

Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak of PAS, has said that the state government was strong and had an adequate majority, and that it was needless to dissolve the assembly and call for fresh elections.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said about 2,000 delegates and 200 observers were expected to attend the congress, to be held at the Kelantan Trade Centre.

"The congress will proceed as usual with the usual issues," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The Youth and Wanita congresses were scheduled to be opened by PKR deputy president Syed Hussin Ali, he said.

Saifuddin said the debate was expected to be on the success of the Selangor government administration, PKR's association in the Pakatan and the preparation of the party machinery for the 13th general election.

The PKR has so far lost five members of parliament and five state assemblypersons through resignations, the MPs being for Bayan Baru, Nibong Tebal, Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Wangsa Maju and Bagan Serai.

Two assemblypersons each in Kedah and Perak and one in Selangor have left the party.

Following the resignations, PKR elections director Fuziah Salleh advised PKR party leaders and members intending to quit to do so within a month from May 20 instead of choosing by-elections to do so.

She gave the "friendly advice" to enable the party to rebrand itself, most probably after the congress.

- Bernama