Nizar: It is a referendum, and one that we will win

By Shannon Teoh-The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin at his press conference. The embittered leader is staying the course.

IPOH, Feb 10 – Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin poured scorn on Barisan Nasional’s (BN) claim to the Perak government today by expressing his confidence of an “overwhelming victory” in the Bukit Gantang by-elections as well as ridiculing its swearing-in of only six executive council members today.

Following the death of Pas MP Roslan Shaharum, Bukit Gantang will face a by-election which Nizar, who Pakatan Rakyat (PR) still backs as the legitimate mentri besar, believes will be an opportunity for Perak voters to “deliver the verdict that they support PR.”

“I think it will result in a referendum and, judging by the overwhelming support Perakians have given us,” he told a press conference at the official MB’s residence here, “we will win.”

As PR won the Sepetang and Changkat Jering state seats as well, Nizar said that he was confident of a “repeat and overwhelming victory” in the imminent by-elections.

Nizar also said that as BN could only swear in six instead of the full complement of 10 executive councillors today, it showed that it was not stable as it did not have the full commitment of its assemblymen.

Leader of the band - Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin explaining the Pakatan moves to return to the political fore of the silver state.

“This shows it is an illegitimate exco which is tempang (lame). A full government will have full commitment. This situation is because it is not recognised by the rakyat,” he said.

When quizzed on speculation that the empty seats were reserved for Indian PR lawmakers who would be enticed to defect so that BN could have a multiracial lineup, Nizar pointed out that this showed how BN did not have the backing of the people as a whole.

“That resembles how mistrusted and cruel they are. There are so many negative elements in their ranks,” he said.

Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham also added that the inability of BN to swear in a full lineup was down to “huge infighting within Umno.”

“They are fighting tooth and nail to be exco members. It shows that this illegal government cannot stand for long.”

But for as long as BN has claimed the government offices, PR will have to base itself out of the MB’s residence.

Nizar announced that as they were being barred from entering the state secretariat, then it would have to conduct its meetings from the residence and it would also now be its office.

“It appears we have no other place to go to discharge our duties so we will render it from the residence, which is now also our office.”