Three Umno assemblypersons in Perak are ready to jump ship ?

It looks like a tit-for-tat political scenario of cross-overs in Perak as the state PKR now claims three Umno assembly persons are ready to jump ship to its party allegedly over unhappiness with Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.

PKR state information chief Zulkifly Ibrahim told a media conference at state party headquarters in Ipoh that negotiations are going on between the three Umno assembly persons and PKR's top leadership.

He declined to name the alleged three Umno defectors, but said the party leadership will be making an official statement on this matter soon and release the names of the three.

According to Zulkifly, state Umno members are unhappy with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's move to legalise football gambling by giving a sports betting licence to tycoon Vincent Tan's Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd.

Furthermore, he claimed, there is disillusion among state Umno members it is alleged that more priority are given to state PKR members who cross over rather than Umno members themselves.

No details were given as to the terms and conditions of the purported cross-over plans.

Meanwhile, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, dismissed as a lie on opposition claim that three Perak Umno state assemblypersons would join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) soon.

Zambry, who is chairman of the Perak Umno Liaison Committee, said the allegation was designed to cause disunity in the state Umno which was gaining strength.

"They (the opposition) are trying to create issues at a time when their leaders are leaving the party one by one," he said .

Zambry "advised" Zulkifli to focus on harnessing humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza instead of trying to disunite the people in Perak.