What has been dragging on unnecessarily for some months now has disappointed and frustrated Malaysians with the Pakatan Rakyat.
The Menteri Besar’s position is a party matter and the coalition partners should have the wisdom to recognise it as such.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat should have been allowed to sort out their internal problem without any interference from the coalition partners. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Pas’ insistence that Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim should be retained is like throwing a spanner into the works. If the nominating party had lost confidence in its own candidate, the sensible thing is for the party responsible to nominate a replacement. It is their right to do so.
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But for Pas not to observe and respect this simple logic has disappointed Malaysians because this has actually prolonged the problem.
Pas’ stand is that Khalid had not been convicted of any wrong-doing and therefore should continue to be the MB of Selangor. It is a fair stand to take. But what is the repercussion and consequence resulting from this position?
If a motion of no confidence is moved in the State Assembly, how would Pas vote? Having expressed its support for Khalid, it will have to vote against the motion. That is understandable.
But it would also mean that Pas will be voting with Umno against its own coalition partners. It will be seen as cooperating with Umno and acting in collusion with a former sworn enemy.
Apart from that, what would be the outcome of such voting? The DAP and Keadilan will have a combined strength of 28 votes as against the combined votes of Pas, Umno and Khalid which will also be 28 votes! Both sides will be tied evenly. This is when horse-trading and possible bribery will take place.
This situation is reminiscent of the Perak crisis and the frogs that shamelessly betrayed the voters of Perak by abandoning the party which was responsible for their victory. All that Umno needs to do is to entice two or more Assembly members from the Pakatan side, and lo and behold you will have Umno forming the next Selangor government with Pas.
For Pas to help Umno to form the next Selangor State Government is something that is unpalatable considering the fact that Pas has been consistently talking about justice and morality and condemning corruption.
Umno can only help to form the next government by ignoring the principles of justice and democracy and by inducing others to jump ship to win over the much-needed numbers.
Would Pas want to be part of this unsavoury manipulation to topple a duly elected Pakatan government? Umno will go to whatever lengths to capture power and rule Selangor. Would Pas go along with this unscrupulous, undemocratic effort on the part of Umno?
If it does, Pas would be tainted forever and would not be able to speak with any authority on issues concerning ethics, justice, democracy, fairness and morality in the future.
It would be remembered as a party that joined forces with Umno to frustrate the voters of Selangor. It would be a terrible betrayal!
They will remember the painful, immortal words of Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s play: “Et tu, Brute?”
Pas, hopefully, will remember the words of William Blake: “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.”
P Ramakrishnan
Executive committee member
11 August 2014
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
isn’t it the most funniest party PR seemed to be. You talked about ‘KEADILAN’ but how ADIL all of you when it comes to appointing your own son as Penang CF and your own wife as Selangor MB. Not to mentioned how TSKI is being ‘ADIL’ly sacked from PKR. If PR leaders themselves couldn’t exercise ‘KEADILAN’ within yourself please be shameful of calling your collation as PAKATAN KEADILAN!
All political parties, especially those from the opposition, should avoid giving immediate special privileges to anyone just because the person happens to be some well-known personality from another political party or organization or even one who has been a spokesperson or champion for some noble causes. Just look at the likes of MB Khalid, Zaid Ibrahim, Tunku Abdul Aziz etc. These are individuals that were parachuted into important positions at the expense of loyal party members but who eventually turned against their parties. In fact, it would be much better to shortlist party members with proven track record on loyalty and dedication to the party, its policies and the causes that are championed for promotion or appointment into any important positions.
On this, I believe that the PKR or DAP is not short of personalities that have stuck with the party through the thick and thin with some having had to endure with harassment, marginalization, beatings, persecution or even prosecution by the authorities. But these people were time and again passed over for prima donnas from the outside.
It was all planned when … AI was found guilty thus he lost all hopes to become the PM of Malaysia. They said if you cannot get fish then prawns will suffice, that was why the Kajang seat was vacated to make way for AI’s wife to fill in the seat and then to become the MB. Why didn’t AI’s wife contest in that or any seal in Selangor during the last election, that was all planned by AI for sometimes and all the accusations he levied on Khalid didn’t take place in recent time and why only now ? Surely all the DAP members know all that too but they, particularly … LKS, must go along with whatever AI aspires (allegedly) in return for AI’s support for LKS’s son to stay on as CM of Penang. Simple as that, you don’t need the brain of a seasoned politician to see the plan of AI. Let me make one thing clear is that I am a supporter that the present regime should have been kicked out, not only in Selangor, of Putrajaya yesterday. But the alternative… Read more »