KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Suspended Umno member Datuk Muhammad Jailaini Khamis, who is also Melaka state assemblyman, was announced as a PAS member today.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the move was legal as the Melaka government had yet to implement the anti-hopping law when Muhammad Jailani made the switch.
“On June 10, 2023, that is before the Melaka government amended their constitution on July 31, Rembia assemblyman applied to become a member of PAS and he was accepted as a member on the same day.
“So now Melaka has three Opposition assemblymen instead of two,” he said in a press conference at the Parliament building here.
Muhammad Jailani was first elected as Rembia assemblyman in 2018 under the Pakatan Harapan flag.
He then quit PKR in 2020 and continued as an independent member of the Melaka state legislative assembly for nine months.
He joined Umno in 2021 and defended his seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket.
He was appointed as Melaka Tourism, Arts and Culture exco member for two terms under Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali during his tenure as chief minister.
After Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh took over from Sulaiman, Muhammad Jailani was dropped from his position and declared that he did not support Rauf.
He was spotted attending Perikatan Nasional’s unveiling of its candidate for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.
