Perak gov't on the brink of collapse

LIVE REPORTS

4.28pm: Bota representative Nasarudin Hashim is also learnt to be at the press conference, waiting to be introduced to the media by Najib.

With Nasarudin's re-defection, BN and its independent allies now has 31 against Pakatan Rakyat's 28.

4.25pm Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu and Hee Yit Foong are present at the DPM's office. It is believed that Najib will announce their entry into BN at his press conference.

4pm: DPM Najib Abdul Razak expected to begin his press conference in Putrajaya soon.

3.50pm: Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has gone into Istana Kinta to meet with Sultan Azlan Shah.

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EARLIER TODAY

Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to have an audience with the sultan to seek the dissolution of the state assembly.

If the sultan accedes to the request, a snap state election will have to be called in view of the current political upheaval in Perak.

It is learnt that Nizar is now waiting to be summoned by Sultan Azlan Shah for the audience and will be calling a press conference soon after.

The Pakatan Rakyat-led government is at the verge of collapse in the wake of resignations from three of its state assemblypersons.

Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) and deputy assembly speaker Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang) had this morning submitted official letters to speaker V Sivakumar to express their intention to become independent representatives.

This afternoon Hee confirmed to reporters in Ipoh that she had resigned from DAP to become an independent.

Two more to defect, Najib to call PC

At the same time, political circles told Malaysiakini that two more Pakatan representatives are in the midst of leaving their parties. They too are expected to become independents.

All five are eventually expected to join BN.

The Perak sultan will now play a pivotal role on whether to agree with Mohmad Nizar in dissolving the state assembly or hand over the state government to the one which commands the majority, which in this case could be BN.

But it appears that the sultan will go for the second option by allowing a transfer of power without a snap poll.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is calling a press conference at 4pm in Putrajaya. It is speculated that he may announced the possible takeover of the state government.

All Perak BN parliamentarians and state assemblypersons have summoned to Putrajaya for Najib's press conference.

With Hee's defection, Pakatan now has 29 seats with DAP (17), PKR (6) and PAS (6), BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1), and three independents.