By Neville Spykerman
SHAH ALAM, Oct 29 — Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim (picture) said today that the resignation of Badrul Hisham Abdullah from PKR would not affect the stability of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government.
The Port Klang Assemblyman announced this evening that he would become an independent lawmaker supporting Barisan Nasional (BN).
“PR will continue to command the majority in the 56 seat state legislature,” said Teng to The Malaysian Insider.
With the resignation , PR will have 35 state lawmakers in the state and still command a comfortable majority of 15 seats in the house. The balance of power among the PR coalition is PKR with 14 seats, DAP 13 and PAS with eight.
BN has 20 elected representatives — 18 from Umno and two from MCA — and with Badrul Hisham’s support, it has increased its presence in the legislature to 21.
However state Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Khir Toyo is currently serving a one year suspension, while four other Umno lawmakers have been suspended for six months, for committing contempt against the House.
In response to Badrul Hisham’s resignation, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said “that’s his decision”.
He added that a team would be formed to serve the voters in the Port Klang constituency.
Meanwhile PKR insiders said they were already expecting Badrul Hisham’s decision to quit the party and were far from surprised by his decision.
Speculation had been rife for months about Badrul Hisham’s close relationship with Umno.
At the same time, voters in his constituency have complaint that he was both unreachable and elusive.
Badrul Hisham was also on medical leave during the last sitting of the state assembly in July and only attended a single day in the previous sitting.
Earlier this morning PKR’s Seri Setia lawmaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad issued a statement which stated that a recommendation would be made to the party’s Supreme Council that Badrul Hisham should quit as Port Klang Assemblyman.
The political secretary to the Selangor mentri besar added that the state government could not tolerate incompetent and irresponsible leaders.
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