Nik Abdul Aziz left in dark over Kajang fiasco

Pas spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat admitted that he was left in dark over the strategy or issue that led to Kajang state assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh to resign on Monday and paving the way for a by-election.

He said he is still waiting for an explanation from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat whom he believed had it own reasons for the by-election.

“In this matter, PAS’s direction is best determined by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as the executive power of the party after taking into consideration recent developments,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli on Wednesday had explained that the step was a radical one which was taken to capture Putrajaya and making Selangor the Opposition’s fort.

In his press statement, Rafizi had apologised to Malaysians especially Kajang voters for ‘forcing’ them to go through a by-election which will consume their time and the people’s money.

Lee had resigned from the seat he won in the 13th general election through a letter sent to the state assembly speaker, stating that the move would enable the party to serve the people of Selangor better.

His action had taken several Pakatan Rakyat leaders by surprise and earned the criticism of many including the Bersih 2.0 electoral watchdog.

Meanwhile, Nik Abdul Aziz disagreed with views that the step to vacate the Kajang seat is a manipulation of the democratic process in the country.

Citing the Perak constitutional crisis in 2009, he said that was a move which had ‘discarded democracy and took over the state government through the back door’.

“UMNO stop pretending to be virtuous because their sins in Perak are still fresh in mind,” he said.

He had also challenged UMNO and Barisan Nasional to not contest in the Kajang state seat election if the party felt that the election process is a waste and an insult to the democratic process in the country.

On Tuesday, BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stressed that the BN will nominate a candidate to the Kajang state seat because as a democratic country, BN had the rights to do so.