ALOR STAR: Less than 24 hours after Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) announced its candidates in Kedah, 4,000 Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members in Alor Mengkudu today quit the party in protest over seat distribution among the opposition pact.
Following their departure, 15 PPBM’s District Polling Centre (PDM) in the Alor Mengkudu state seat were dissolved to protest the nomination of Kedah PAN deputy chairman Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi as the opposition candidate for the constituency.
The group then decided to join Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) with immediate effect by putting on blue t-shirts.
A spokesman for the 15 PDM, Muhamad Rizal Zainol Abidin said they were truly unhappy with parliamentary and state seat distribution among the opposition parties in Kedah comprising PPBM, PAN, PKR and DAP.
Rizal, who is also Alor Melintang PDM chief, said they felt betrayed when the opposition leaders decided to hand over the Alor Mengkudu seat to PAN after they had worked hard for two years preparing the general election machinery and recruiting PPBM members from among the locals here.
“It should have been given to PPBM but sadly it has been handed over to an outsider candidate who has never served this constituency.
“This is an utter betrayal to all of us from the 15 PDM which were convinced that the Alor Mengkudu seat would be awarded to PPBM.
“The move to deny PPBM rights to the seat is a political game which is not based on the principles of justice,” he told reporters in Jalan Datuk Kumbar here today.
Folllowing their decision to quit the party, Rizal said they have decided to dissolve all 15 PDM under PPBM and its general election machinery for the Alor Mengkudu constituency.
He added that they would also boycott all the campaigns for the PAN candidate and help ensure BN’s victory in Alor Mengkudu.
“We also wish to announce our support for Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah’s leadership as the Menteri Besar and Kedah BN chairman.
“The 4,000 PPBM members who left the party will also help the BN candidate in Alor Mengkudu.
“We wish to teach the opposition pact a lesson so that they will stop this culture of individual party interest which disrespects the spirit of friendship and honour,” he said.
Yesterday, the NSTP reported that PAN president Mohamad Sabu announced that Phahrolrazi, who is also former Kedah government executive councillor in the Pas-led state government, would not be defending his Pengkalan Kundor seat that he had held since 1999 as he was moving to contest the Alor Mengkudu seat.
Mohamad had also announced that former Pas vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar will defend his Pokok Sena parliament seat under PAN’s ticket.
PAN is contesting for three parliamentary seats in Kedah, namely Pokok Sena, Padang Terap and SIk, besides 10 state seats.