Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) remain strong despite former Johor Umno leader Shahruddin Md Salleh joining Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), said Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng.

He said the Jorak state assemblyperson’s action will not affect the governance and deliverance of the BN state government which remain strong with 37 state assemblypersons compared with 19 from the opposition.

Shahruddin has been appointed as secretary-general of Bersatu.

Liang, who is member of parliament for Simpang Renggam, Johor described Shahruddin’s party-hopping act as despicable and betrayal of the voters’ trust given to BN in the last general election.

“If Bersatu thinks that they are relevant, let’s compete openly and graciously in elections, but it is wrong and condemnable to resort to such an ungraceful manner by engineering party-hopping,” he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

- Bernama