Karpal against PKR seizing power though MP crossovers

By Teh Eng Hock, The Star

Pakatan Rakyat should only embark on capturing the Federal and state governments during the next general election, and not seize power via the crossovers of Barisan Nasional MPs.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the people’s choice during the election should be honoured, and the people would feel cheated if MPs or assemblymen hop over to another party.

“I must make it very clear that I have not at any one time been in support of Anwar’s (Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) stand on crossovers.

“In fact, as far back as March 23, 2008, I had gone to the extent of saying DAP would support the Barisan-led Federal Government to amend the Constitution to make party-hopping illegal by providing more than the eight MPs required by the Barisan to make up for the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution,” he said in a statement.

Karpal Singh said he had also castigated Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam for wanting to leave PKR, saying that the latter was not elected in his personal capacity and had no right to join another party or remain as independent.

“He should resign so that his constituents can decide whom they wish to have as their representative in Parliament.

“DAP is against elected representatives betraying the sacred trust of their constituents through party-hopping,” he said.

Karpal Singh was responding to a letter written by a reader of The Star, who questioned his principles for supporting Anwar.

He said the reader had labeled him as an unprincipled politician, and should check his facts before criticising.

Karpal Singh said the reader owed him an apology as any criticism must be based on truth.