At a press conference today, Gerakan Reformasi 98 (Gerak98) and Otai Reformis cast doubts on the assemblymen’s loyalty, saying they were once linked to former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who is now a senior minister in the Perikatan Nasional government.

Aside from Amirudin, the groups did not name the other eight assemblymen.

“Our goal today is to save Selangor from betrayal like what happened in the Sheraton Move,” said Gerak98 leader Mohamed Ezam Md Nor.

He said the assemblymen should give way to fresh faces to prove they are really reformists.

“To us, those who were with Azmin have not shown any sign that they no longer support him.”

Ezam claimed none of the nine assemblymen had ever criticised Azmin and that others linked to the Gombak MP still held high positions in the Selangor government.

“Those who are anti-Azmin are not given positions in the state government and government-linked corporations,” said Ezam.

He said the call for the group to stay out of GE15 was only for that election, adding that they may contest in other elections, or hold positions within the state government and party.

Ezam, who is PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s former political secretary, said he would take on Amirudin if the party nominated the Sungai Tua assemblyman to defend his seat.

But he will not contest against Amirudin if the latter stood in areas that are not PKR strongholds.