Send message to PKR by boycotting Kajang polls
How will Anwar being a state elected rep help to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor?
By Kua Kia Soong, FMT
The people marched in Bersih 1, 2 & 3. What was that all about? For free and fair elections, for an opportunity to topple the Barisan Nasional that has shown contempt for voters not only in elections but also in their laws and policies.
We read about how voters were so passionate about making real change they had taken the trouble to travel back from overseas just to vote in the May 5 general elections.
Now, just a few months after constituents had voted for their ADUN in Kajang, the PKR state rep resigns without providing any valid justification to the very people of Kajang who had voted him in.
He said it was for “the greater interest of Pakatan Rakyat”.
In most cases, the people can accept the justification for a by-election if the politician concerned is embroiled in a scandal or has health problems and is thus forced to resign.
In this case, it seems to be a case of “resignation of convenience” aimed at solving the internal politicking between the PKR Menteri Besar and the PKR strong man who opposes him and to facilitate the entry of Anwar Ibrahim into the Selangor state government.
The cost of this strategy is to force a costly by-election and leave constituents without representation for weeks.
Mind you, Anwar has said that he has no intention of becoming the Menteri Besar and the current Selangor MB has said he does not intend to vacate his post as MB.
All this makes the resignation of the Kajang ADUN all the more preposterous.
Anwar is already the adviser to the Selangor state government and head of the entire Pakatan Rakyat coalition. So how will he being an ADUN help to strengthen Pakatan in the state?
This is a most cynical violation of the public trust. Furthermore, if Anwar is to stand in the Kajang state seat, he has to justify holding two offices (in addition to his federal seat in Penang), which can be seen as an abuse of political privilege and a further contempt of voters in both constituencies.
DAP politicians have finally been forced to forgo this privilege/contempt of voters after years of public shaming. Karpal Singh has spoken out against this gross abuse of political privilege and it would be interesting to hear his views on this further case of constituency grabbing within Pakatan.
