Perak political theatre escalates

Photos: Mr Osman Jailu (left) and Mr Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (below) apparently decided to quit the Pakatan Rakyat.

IPOH,MALAYSIA: It could end up dealing a major blow to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition he heads.

After the March general election last year, Perak was tenuously controlled by the three-party PR.

Its wafer-thin majority of three in the State Assembly rose only recently to five, after a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition - in power nationally but in opposition in Perak - jumped ship.

However, now two state ministers - Mr Jamaluddin Mat Radzi, 52, and Mr Osman Jailu, 57 - have apparently decided to quit PR.

With rumours in the wind that others may join them, the state government might not survive.

Moves and countermoves to foil any defection are now the talking point among Malaysians.

Yesterday, the Speaker of the State Assembly informed the body that regulates polls - the Elections Commission - that the two men have "resigned" their seats.

This would pave the way for fresh by-elections, which the PR - having handily won the last two such contests - would be tipped to win.

But the two men insist they have no wish to quit, saying they were forced last March to sign undated resignation letters.

Mr Osman has even filed a police report denying any resignation.

Adding spice to the mix is the fact that both face corruption charges.

Some have suggested that they are hoping to save their own skin by switching allegiance now.

The two men called press conferences yesterday, but failed to show up: Representatives read out statements, in which they said they were not quitting and had vanished from public view because they were on "medical leave".

So what's next?

Even if the Elections Commission decides on a by-election, some observers think the matter will end up in the courts.

Both men have already spoken of consulting their lawyers over the undated resignation letters.

"In 1992, the Supreme Court had ruled that using such undated letters was not valid as it was against the freedom-of-association provision under the Federal Constitution," commented Mr Wong Sai Wan in The Star, a Malaysian daily.

And there is still the "nuclear option": The PR may move to dissolve the entire state assembly and hold statewide polls.

For now, that's not on the cards, said senior state executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham, one of the key PR leaders.

But as the drama drags on, it's hard to say what will happen next.