KUALA LUMPUR: Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis (pic), who left Umno to join PAS, may have to face repercussions for reneging an agreement he had signed to qualify as a candidate for the state elections in 2021.
He said a letter of undertaking signed by Muhammad Jailani and also other Barisan Nasional assemblymen prior to being selected as candidates and elected to the position states that if they choose to defect or leave for another political party, they are required to compensate the party for the costs incurred to enable them to contest in the elections and subsequently be picked as a state representative.
Ab Rauf said he will raise the matter with Umno’s supreme council for further action.
“He and all the other (Barisan Nasional) assemblymen, including myself, signed the letter of undertaking that outlined these rules.
“Only after this letter is signed will an individual get a letter of appointment and allowed to contest as a candidate for the general election. He will need to compensate for all expenses incurred to contest under the party,” he said.
Ab Rauf chose not to mention the quantum of the restitution, but it is understood that the sum is RM100mil.
He said following Muhammad Jailani’s official announcement on Tuesday that he had joined PAS on June 10 last year, the matter will be examined in accordance with the rules and laws of the party’s constitution and the state legislative assembly.
He said he would leave it to Umno’s supreme council to decide on the fate of Muhammad Jailani’s party membership.
Ab Rauf said he will also leave any decision on Muhammad Jailani’s status as an assemblyman to the Speaker of the state legislative assembly.
He said Muhammad Jailani’s departure from the unity government did not affect the status of the state government.
He said the state government was in a secure position, initially occupying 26 out of 28 seats in the state legislative assembly. It is committed to continuing to serve the people.
He also extended his appreciation to Muhammad Jailani for his service to Barisan Nasional and the unity government.
“We’d like to thank him for his contributions, even though he chose to join Pas on his own initiative to carry out his duties.
“Following what has happened, we will pay more attention to the Rembia constituency since the assemblyman is no longer with the state government,” he said.
Muhammad Jailani was first elected as Rembia assemblyman in 2018 under Pakatan Harapan’s banner and was made a state executive councillor under the then Chief Minister Adly Zahari during Pakatan’s administration.
He then quit PKR in 2020 and continued as an independent assemblyman before rejoining Umno in 2021 and defending his seat under the Barisan Nasional during the Melaka state election in the same year.
Then chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali reappointed him as an exco member before Ab Rauf, who succeeded Sulaiman in March of last year, removed him.
