PETALING JAYA, JUNE 7- Despite mounting a nationwide protest against the “fraudulent” general election results, Pakatan Rakyat MPs today expressed hesitance in boycotting the Parliament’s swearing-in ceremony on June 26
This was following pressure from a coalition of NGOs yesterday demanding elected representatives from Pakatan strengthen their months-long protest by snubbing the Parliament sitting.
“We have no plans at the moment (to boycott parliament),” said Gelang Patah MP and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang when contacted.
When asked whether DAP would discuss the issue among themselves or with party allies PKR and PAS, Lim repeated they had no plans, and declined to elaborate on the matter.
The usually vocal PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar was equally curt – when FMT posed the question, he quickly interrupted to say that he was in no position to comment.
“I cannot say. You must ask the Pakatan secretariat. Assalamualaikum,” the Pokok Sena MP said, hastily ending the conversation.
But when FMT asked who in PAS could speak on this matter, he said to refer to party present Abdul Hadi Awang.
Abdul Hadi could not be contacted for a response.
Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the party “would consider [the idea] seriously” as it was a request from civil society.
“We have to meet to discuss with other Pakatan members. This is something we have to think carefully, give serious thoughts because there are serious implications,” said the Batu MP.
But he said it wasn’t an urgent issue because they had until June 24 to decide.
“Our decision also depends on what happens in between. Our demand is very clear – to have the Election Commission resign. So if they do before June 24, then the issue of us boycotting parliament may not occur,” said Tian Chua.
Anything But Umno (ABU) leader Haris Ibrahim had reportedly argued yesterday that doubts over the professionalism, integrity and independence of the EC and ongoing election petitions made the election results suspect.
According to news portal Malaysiakini, Haris had pointed out Pakatan itself had organised several mass rallies rejecting the election
results, and boycotting the swearing-in ceremony would strengthen their protest.
But The Malaysian Insider reported this morning that Pakatan MPs are expected to only boycott next Tuesday’s parliamentary briefing – a move that will have no effect on the elected representatives as attendance is not compulsory.
Seremban MP Anthony Loke also reportedly told the news portal that he did not think the boycott would be extended to the June 26 sitting.
But Malaysiakini reported today that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was mulling a boycott of the opening session, citing the sole fact that he had refused to submit any parliamentary questions.
