The Perak BN chief said attempts by PN to draw at least four assemblymen to form a majority of 30 seats in the state legislative assembly have been futile.
He added that this was especially so given the RM50 million fine that BN’s elected representatives would have to pay should they change their allegiance.
“Out of nine (BN assemblymen), there are four excos including myself. There are five assemblymen with no posts (in the state government) that could possibly join PN, assuming they can be persuaded to do so.
“However, any BN assemblyman who leaves the party will have to pay a RM50 million fine. They are also beholden to the anti-party hopping law,” he said, adding that the fine is based on a statutory declaration signed between BN and all its candidates prior to the state elections in August last year.
“I have also met all five assemblymen and can confidently say they will not be changing their support.”
Saarani was asked to comment on the opposition’s frequent talk of toppling the unity government in Perak.
Last May, Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria claimed that a few state assemblymen from the unity government had met him after speculation of a move to topple the state government started spreading.
The state opposition leader said the assemblymen concerned had come to see him personally but declined to say if moves to change the government were discussed.
Razman declined to state the number of representatives or their names, but said he would welcome them if they really wanted to support PN’s attempt to change the government.
Meanwhile, PKR’s Hulu Kinta assemblyman Arafat Varisai has claimed that at least three opposition assemblymen are set to support the Pakatan Harapan-BN state government.
To date, no changes in support have occurred on either side in the state.
Perak’s PH-BN unity government has 33 assemblymen, while PN holds the other 26 seats.
Besides Saarani as menteri besar, BN has three other state excos, while PH has eight with four from DAP, three from PKR and one from Amanah.
DAP not rocking the boat
Meanwhile, Saarani said DAP has been a good partner in the state government and has not attempted to exert control despite having more assemblymen.
“We have been together for almost 20 months, and there have been no issues. This shows that PH and BN can be friends,” he said.
Saarani said the understanding between the two coalitions can also be seen in how controversial Perak DAP leaders such as Nga Kor Ming and Ngeh Koo Ham had retracted their statements after being criticised by Umno.
“The concern previously held by the Malays (that DAP would control the government and threaten the Malays’ position) has not come to pass, as we have not compromised on the four pillars of our cooperation with PH.
“Islam as the official religion, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, the Malays’ special rights, the Malay rulers…there is no compromise on these matters,” he said.