Rumours about Kuala Nerang (BN) assemblyperson Syed Sobri Syed Hashim defecting to PAS has travelled far and wide, reaching the ears of his fellow party members in Kuala Lumpur.

Umno Setiawangsa branch chairperson Abdul Rahman Hisham claimed that Syed Sobri may be declaring his defection soon as he could no longer tolerate Umno's leadership in Kedah.

syed sobri syed hashim A very reliable source closed to Syed Sobri has purportedly told Abdul Rahman that he is currently persuading the latter not to jump ship.

According to Abdul Rahman, the source claimed that Syed Sobri (left) is very distressed that no leader from Umno has paid any attention to his problems in the state.

"I do not know what is the exact nature of his problem but it seems that no Umno leader has contacted him although rumours about his defection is circulating within and outside Kedah," Abdul Rahman, author of blog locengwangsa told Malaysiakini .

"We have come to know that there is a big gap between him and the state Umno leaders," he added.

In his blog, Abdul Rahman alleged that Syed Sobri is being hounded by journalists to confirm rumours of his defection.

"According to a reliable source close to him (Syed Sobri), the BN assemblyperson is now at the Padang Terap district office attending a function. It is understood that he is accompanied by several supporters wearing t-shirts labeled 'Kedah Sejahtera' usually worn by PAS supporters," he said in his blog today.

"Not sure whether he will make an announcement after this function. It is also understood that up until now, there are no Umno top leaders or those from the central committee who has contacted him (Syed Sobri)," added the politician-blogger.

Denies defecting to PAS

Syed Sobri is not answering calls but last week, he denied ever defecting to PAS and said that the speculation was based on his apparent closeness to members of his party's arch-rival, PAS.

azizan abdul razak Meanwhile, Kedah Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak (right) denied knowing about Syed Sobri's purported plan to defect but added that he welcomed the assemblyperson if he decided to cross over.

"If the line is clear, why not, we will welcome him," said Azizan, who is also state PAS commissioner.

He was quick to distance himself from any speculation over the matter, and said that he has ‘his own home to take care of'.

"I have my own problems, too, and it is better I take care of that than speculate on something that is not clear" he added, though he did not elaborate what he meant by his ‘own problems'.

Abdul Rahman said, Azizan has decided not to insist on the matter as he does not want to be seen as orchestrating defections from Umno to PAS.

Kedah was plagued with the same problem when four of its assemblypersons - three from PKR and one DAP - faced intense rumours of defections to BN.

It threatened to disintegrate the PAS led Kedah government that Azizan had to organise a political talk (ceramah) so that the quartet could pledge their loyalty to Pakatan Rakyat.