Nasarudin Hashim is a Malaysian politician. A member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly, he is known for his key role in the constitutional crisis

2009 Perak constitutional crisis

The 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was a political dispute in Malaysia regarding the legitimacy of the Perak state government formed in February 2009. It began when three Pakatan Rakyat state legislators defected, causing a collapse of the state government...

 in the state in 2009. His defection from the People's Justice Party (PKR) to the United Malays National Organisation

United Malays National Organisation

The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....

 (UMNO)—days after he had defected the other way—helped cause the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat

Pakatan Rakyat

Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....

 government of which PKR was a component party.

Nasarudin was first elected to the assembly in 2004, as an UMNO member representing the seat of Parit

Parit

Parit is a main town of Perak Tengah district, Perak, Malaysia.List of Schools in Parit:SEKOLAH RENDAH: # Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Parit ....

. He was re-elected to the assembly in 2008, albeit for a different seat, Bota

Bota

Bota is a small town near the Perak River in Perak, Malaysia. It is under the administration of the Perak Tengah district. It comprises two geographical areas: Bota Kiri and Bota Kanan as it is divided by the Perak River. There is a river terrapin breeding centre at Bota Kanan. Bota is also...

. In the 2008 election

Malaysian general election, 2008

The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...

, the Pakatan Rakyat coalition took power in Perak, consigning Nasarudin's UMNO to opposition for the first time in the state's history. On 25 January 2009, Nasarudin announced his defection to PKR, thus boosting the Pakatan Rakyat's narrow majority in the assembly. He claimed it was a "brave" decision that had the support of his constituents. His move was followed by the defection of eight UMNO branches in his constituency. However, in early February, Nasarudin defected back to UMNO. Joined by three other Pakatan Rakyat MPs, the defection gave the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...

coalition the numbers to return to government. Nasarudin said his reversal was to ensure the "stability" of government in Perak.