And Perak MB tells Najib: Don't be too sure - Malaysiakini

Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (pic right) today refuted a claim by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that no other BN state representative will be joining the Pakatan Rakyat, reports Malaysiakini quoting Bernama.

Instead the PAS leader said that three more Barisan Nasional assemblymen were expected to join Pakatan.

He added that discussions with the three assemblymen were ongoing and Pakatan was working at bringing them into its fold.

Here's the rest of the report:

"We did not invite them to join us but they came to see us. We are holding discussions."

After Nasaruddin(Hashim [pic left with Anwar on the right]) announced his joining us yesterday, the three others came to see us and said they wanted to talk," he told reporters in Ipoh, reported Bernama.

Mohammad Nizar did not identify the three assemblypersons, only adding that the trio were disappointed with Umno.

"But it is only one of the reasons, as they were supposed to contest for the divisional chief posts (in the Umno divisional elections last October) but were ordered not to, while some lost in the elections.

"It was Umno's internal problem. Nasaruddin said his joining (PKR) was due to disappointment, internally," he said.

However, he said, the chances of Pakatan getting the BN assemblypersons to join the opposition pact was 50-50.

"They need time to consider as Nasaruddin took three weeks to decide," he added.

Bota assemblyperson Nasaruddin joined PKR yesterday after considering the interests of voters and his supporters in the state constituency.

With that, the Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak government now has 32 seats while BN has 27 (26 held by Umno and one by MCA).

Earlier today Najib rubbished all talks of more BN state representatives in Perak joining the Pakatan alliance.

He said that such talks were only rumours.

Have no effect on state BN

Meanwhile Perak BN chief and former MB Tajol Rosli Ghazali said Nasaruddin's decision to leave Umno does not affect the status of BN.

Tajol, also the state's Umno head, said Nasaruddin's move only brought change to the number of seats in the state legislative assembly.

He expressed confidence that the Perak BN was capable of wresting back the state from Pakatan in the next general election.

"We have three years to do so and the BN has put in motion all measures especially to get the votes of the youth."

BN was left behind in the 12th general election in the third and fourth streams...we will strive to get youth votes in those streams," he said.

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Picture (courtesy of The Star): Nasarudin speaking to the press as Anwar listens at PKR’s office in Petaling Jaya yesterday.