Suspended Pkr Assemblyperson To Sit As Bersatu Rep In Penang

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Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin said he will sit as a Bersatu representative when the Penang state assembly convenes in October
He said he has been sacked from PKR by the party's political bureau. Malaysiakini has contacted the party for further details
"The (state) Pakatan Harapan government has put me as opposition. (So) I will sit as a Bersatu representative," he told Malaysiakini
It is unclear whether Afif (above, left) has formally submitted his membership to Bersatu
However, The Star cited Afif as saying he had informed Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin of his seating plans when the pair met yesterday
"To serve my constituents better, I need to get support from the federal government," he was quoted as saying
Afif was suspended from PKR last month as part of the party's purge against those known to be aligned with former party deputy president Azmin Ali, after he triggered the "Sheraton Move" which led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government
There was strong speculation that Azmin, who is with Bersatu now, would be forming his own party, Parti Negara, with Afif's Pemuda Negara NGO to become its youth wing
However, Afif said that is not a crucial matter at the moment
"The issue of forming a new party is not important. What is important is strengthening Perikatan Nasional. What is crucial is for the government to serve the people better," he added
Besides Afif, PKR Women chief Haniza Talha (above) had also been suspended over her ties to Azmin
Two weeks ago, her deputy Dr Daroyah Alwi quit the party and declared herself a PN-friendly independent
Haniza's Nation of Women NGO is speculated to be the precursor for Parti Negara women's wing. - Mkini

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