Khir Toyo and Anwar Ibrahim: Who is more honourable?

By Pieter D’Cruz

I read yesterday that Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo has resigned as the Opposition leader of the Selangor state legislative assembly after he was charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission over the purchase of two lots of land and a bungalow in Shah Alam.

I am no big fan of Datuk Seri Khir but I have to admit that it was the honourable course of action that he took in resigning as the state opposition leader. While he is preparing for his trial, it is not likely he can devote much time or attention to his duties as opposition leader. The citizens of Selangor should not be deprived of their right to have an opposition leader in the state assembly who can fully perform his duties. It is quite commendable that Khir has given way to someone else.

I am therefore most puzzled as to why the opposition leader in our federal parliament has not chosen to do likewise. He is presently embroiled in a sodomy trial.

Would it not be more honourable for him to step down as opposition leader, like Khir Toyo, so that he can devote his fullest attention to his trial and allow another MP with much less time-consuming encumbrances to take over?    

Maybe the Selangor opposition leader had to resign because he is a ‘God-cursed’ leader whereas the federal opposition leader is a ‘gift from God’ to the people of Malaysia. I really do not know. I hope he or anyone else within the federal opposition circle can answer my question.