Petaling Jaya, Jan 29- Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has flayed PKR for consenting to Lee Chin Cheh’s resignation as the Kajang assemblyman, calling it unacceptable and a betrayal of the people’s mandate.
It also described the coming Kajang by-election, in which PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will be contesting in, as an unnecessary waste of public funds because of “the whims and fancies of a few”.
“The reason for Lee’s resignation on Jan 27, 2014, reported in the media as to “benefit PKR as a whole” reflects poor judgement on the part of the candidate as well as the party he belongs to,” said the Bersih steering committee in a statement last night.
“It is shocking that PKR consented to Lee’s resignation and is fielding its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in the by-election. This reeks of dirty politics and should be condemned.”
The coalition for free and fair elections reminded the public that the duty of an elected representative was towards their constituency, not their political party, as illustrated by Lee.
“The only acceptable reason for elected representatives to resign is when they are not able to carry out the mandate given to them – i.e. to serve the people.
“Lee’s reason for stepping down does not put the people’s interest at the forefront.”
Rubbing salt to the wound, Bersih likened Lee’s actions to that of former DAP assemblyman Hee Yit Fong, who had resigned her seat in 2009 and sparked the Perak constitutional crisis that eventually caused the then opposition-led state to fall back to BN.
“Both actions are equally deplorable. It is disappointing that PKR, one of the victims of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis, is the key player in this sorry saga.”
Bersih described the situation as a regressive step for democracy, as it supported “the mistaken notion” that elections were about political parties and politicians, rather than about the people.
It reminded politicians and their parties to not manipulate the people’s trust and not take the mandate of an elected representative for granted.
“No amount of political spinning will hide the fact that on Jan 27, 2014, the interest of the Kajang people took a backseat,” said Bersih.
The Bersih steering committee comprises chairperson Maria Abdullah, Dr Farouk Musa, Masjaliza Hamzah, New Sin Yew and Farhana Halim.
-FreeMalaysiaToday
