The defection of three lawmakers from his ranks in the past three weeks is pouring more pressure on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, even as he faces a sodomy trial that could end his political career.
The latest to quit was Perak state lawmaker Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri, who resigned yesterday saying he 'strongly disagreed' with Anwar's support for a December 31 court ruling that allowed Christians to use the word 'Allah'.
'Allah is exclusively for Muslims,' Mohsin said. Other Muslim lawmakers in the People's Justice Party were ready to quit over this issue, he said.
Tan Tee Beng, a lawmaker from Anwar's home state of Penang, quit the opposition leader's three-party People's Alliance on Monday, while Zahrain Hashim, another Penang lawmaker, resigned three weeks ago.
All three declared themselves independent but are expected to align themselves with the ruling National Front coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Other senior members of the opposition hierarchy have also been turning their backs on Anwar.
'I hereby announce that based on the principles of defending my religion and race, and the people I resign from Pakatan [the opposition coalition] and join the Barisan [National Front],' said Fairus Khairuddin, the former deputy chief minister of opposition-ruled Penang state who was earlier forced to step down amid corruption allegations.