Monday December 1, 2008
Deputy Chief Minister’s post offered to Arif Shah
By ZULKIFLY MOHAMAD
BUTTERWORTH: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has allegedly offered Seberang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah a Penang Deputy Chief Minister’s post to join PKR.
The Opposition Leader is believed to have made the offer to Arif Shah last week after learning that the sole Barisan Nasional-elected representative in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency was not on talking terms with Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.
Anwar is Permatang Pauh MP.
Arif Shah, who confirmed the offer made by Anwar, said he was an Umno loyalist but the current situation in the Umno division was not conducive enough for him to stay on.
“I have also received hundreds of SMSes from PKR members asking me to join them. They said that they would host a grand welcome if I decide to join the Opposition. I have not decided whether to reject the offer,” he said.
It is learnt that several Umno leaders, including the Prime Minister’s political secretary Datuk Reezal Merican, former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad and Penang Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim would meet Arif Shah to settle his problems with Abdul Jalil.
Arif Shah’s presence in Shah Alam over the weekend where the PKR congress was being held also triggered rumours that he was “testing the waters” before making a decision.
He denied going to the gathering, and said he was in town to visit his son who is studying at UiTM.
Arif Shah said he was disappointed that Abdul Jalil was making life difficult for him by imposing many conditions which had hindered his work as a state assemblyman.
The dispute between the two Umno leaders is an open secret in Permatang Pauh and Arif Shah had made known his unhappiness over the way he was treated by Abdul Jalil to his party friends some time ago.
An Umno branch leader in the division, who declined to be named, said Abdul Jalil did not even attend any of Arif Shah’s programmes during the campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.
However, the last straw was when Abdul Jalil allegedly sent him a letter banning him from attending the division meeting after he retained the division chief’s post last month.
Abdul Jalil denied allegations that he could not see eye-to-eye with Arif Shah and was plotting to end the latter’s political career.
He said he was friendly with everyone in Permatang Pauh and expressed shock over newspaper reports that he was behind Arif Shah’s unhappiness and political dilemma.
“I do not have anything to say. Let the people be the judge and let the state Umno liaison committee deal with the matter and Arif Shah,” Abdul Jalil said.
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