There are apparently several defectors among the 41 Barisan Nasional parliamentarians who boarded a flight for Taiwan today for an agriculture study tour.

pkr congress 2007 250507 syed husin PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali revealed this at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

"(Opposition alliance) Pakatan (Rakyat) is not crying wolf with our claims of taking over. I can authoritatively state that we have the numbers," he stressed.

He was speaking to reporters at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall after the launch of think-tank Centre for Policy Initiatives website.

Earlier in the morning, Syed Husin attended a three-hour top-level Pakatan Rakyat meeting, which is believed to have focused on the takeover plan.

However, Syed Husin said the date for the proposed change of government is likely to be pushed backed from Sept 16 due to the Backbenchers Club sending their MPs on the eight-day trip.

Another eight BN MPs will be flying to Taiwan tomorrow to join their colleagues.

"Some of those who will crossover are in this trip, and we have to wait till they return before we can unveil all of them together," said the PKR leader.

"It will not happen on Sept 16. So the date might be 17 plus one or plus two or plus three but it will not be much longer than that," he added.

Target is 40 MPs

Syed Husin was clearly unruffled by what may transpire with the MPs while in Taiwan, even though he disclosed that attempts to tempt back potential defectors will happen.

He also shared that in order to have a more stable replacement government, they are likely to secure 40 legislators rather than just the bare minimum of 31.

kamaruddin jaafar kamaruddin jaffar Another Pakatan Rakyat leader, PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaffar also conceded that the takeover date has been altered because of the Taiwan trip.

"We have the numbers, but the numbers include those who are now currently on their way to Taiwan.

"This trip will have an effect on our plans for Sept 16, because we need the physical presence of those MPs to make it (the change of government) effective.

"Although Sept 16 is basically still on track, we view their absence as an obstacle to our plan. We are still discussing and planning on how to work around this problem," he said.

Kamaruddin said the hastily-planned trip indicated that after Pakatan Rakyat leaders themselves, those in BN were next in being the "strongest believers" that the crossovers would happen.

'They'll provoke unrest'

Meanwhile, Syed Husin related that the process of change will get drawn into a period of confirmation of allegiance.

"I believe the king is neutral in regards to political affiliations. His Majesty might want to meet the MPs in question personally to ascertain their support.

"Since those in BN now have signed support documents for their coalition. And we have them signed up to (support) us too," he said.

Syed Husin said once the king knows that Pakatan Rakyat has the numbers, he will consent to the new government.

Responding to a question, he noted that BN will not concede defeat and hand over the reins easily.

"Don’t think Ahmad Ismail is an isolated incident in Umno. He has the backing of all 13 divisions in the state, including the prime minister’s division.

"They will precipitate and provoke unrest, and hope that leads to the declaring of martial law. This will lead to mass arrests. But this is not 1969. People are more cautious now," he said.

Ahmad, the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief, courted controversy when he made derogatory remarks against the Chinese and refused to apologise.