Kajang fiasco 'reeks of dirty politics', says Bersih 2.0

Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 on Tuesday in lashing out at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), said the resignation of Kajang state assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh was "nothing short of a betrayal of trust" to the voters.

The statement, issued by the Bersih Steering Committee, said that it found it wholly unacceptable that a state assemblyperson has resigned “to benefit his political party".

"The reason for Lee's resignation on 27 Jan 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 Bersih.

Bersih said that it was "shocking" that PKR consented to Lee's resignation and is fielding its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the by-election.

"This reeks of dirty politics and should be condemned," said the coalition in a strongly-worded statement.

Bersih said that the first and foremost duty of an elected representative is towards the people in his/her constituency and not to his/her political party.

It said the only acceptable reason for an elected representatives to resign is when they are not able to carry out the mandate given to them.

"Lee's reason for stepping down does not put the people's interest at the forefront," said Bersih.

Citing the Perak constitutional crisis in 2009, Bersih said Lee's actions were similar to what then-DAP assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong did when she jumped ship.

"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 said it was appalled that a by-election would have to be called and public funds would be unnecessarily wasted "because of the whims and fancies of a few."

"No amount of political spinning will hide the fact that on 27.1.2014, the interest of the Kajang people took a backseat."

Bersih called the situation a "regressive step for democracy because it supports the mistaken notion in Malaysia that elections are about political parties and politicians rather than about the people."

The Bersih steering committee comprises Maria Chin Abdullah, Dr Farouk Musa, Masjaliza Hamzah, New Sin Yew and Farhana Halim.

The announcement of Lee's resignation on Monday and Anwar's candidacy on Tuesday has sparked public uproar over the matter.

Bersih is the latest in civil society to criticise the move.