IPOH: Three assemblymen, two from DAP and one from Amanah, have declared they are now independents and support the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
Paul Yong Choo Kiong (DAP- Tronoh), A. Sivasubramaniam (DAP-Buntong), and Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim (Amanah-Titi Serong) announced their departures from their respective parties shortly after Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu announced that Perikatan Nasional which comprises Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Umno and Pas had taken over the state administration.
Yong, who is former state exco for Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Islamic Affairs and New Villages, said they had thought long and hard about the matter.
“Perikatan Nasional has taken over the state administration. The new coalition will not be perfect without the presence of Chinese and Indian representatives.
“We thus decided to become independents and support the coalition for voters’ sake,” he said at a press conference at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here today. .
Yong meanwhile said the decision was made to protect the people’s interest in their constituencies. By remaining in the opposition bloc, they could not do much for the people, he said.
“There are many projects that will be carried out in our respective areas. For people’s sake, we have declared ourselves as independents and are throwing our support behind Ahmad Faizal,” he said.