PKR must show an "overwhelmingly good reason" for a by-election in Selangor's Kajang state seat, in light of the public's growing unhappiness over the sudden move, electoral reforms activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (pic) said last night.
Acknowledging the by-election, taking place barely a year after the 13th general election, is a waste of taxpayers' money, the former co-chair of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said she was willing to give the multiracial opposition party the benefit of the doubt.
"Money has to be spent and that is why people are not happy.
"They don't understand it, but I am prepared to give the benefit of the doubt. But it has to be an overwhelmingly good reason," she told reporters after attending a forum organised by DAP last night.
In admitting that she was surprised over the turn of events in Pakatan Rakyat-led (PR) Selangor, Ambiga said the coalition owed the people an explanation.
"I am concerned for the voters because they have voted in the assemblyman. So, I think there are a lot of questions that needed to be answered," she said adding that she felt sorry for the former Kajang assemblyman, Lee Chin Cheh, who resigned in the interest of the party.
Followng Lee's shock resignation from the mixed urban seat, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was named as the party's candidate, fuelling speculations that it was a move to pave the way for him to become the next menteri besar and to put a stop to the ongoing feud between his loyalist Azmin Ali and incumbent MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
However, Anwar fended off suggestions that his candidacy was to pave the way for him to take over from Abdul Khalid, insisting that he was running as a state assembly member in order to help strengthen Pakatan's running of the state and to build momentum for the coalition's ambitions to take over federal power.
"This decision is for me to help improve the already stellar performance of the state administration under Abdul Khalid.
"It is to make Selangor a base from which to launch our campaign to take over Putrajaya," Anwar said yesterday.
He also fended off criticisms that the party was using the by-election to resolve what is really an internal party crisis.
"We have to explain to the people the rationale of this by-election. It is to give space to a candidate that can help boost the state's administration. I will assist the state government in whatever way I can."
Khalid's feud with his party over how he runs the state became an open secret months after he was sworn in for a second term after the 13th general election.
During the state's budget session last October, Khalid clashed with Selangor PKR over a hike in the salaries of elected representatives, state executive councillors, the state assembly speaker and the menteri besar.
Azmin, who is Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, and Anwar, opposed the salary hikes, some of which were increased by up to 300%.
Khalid was also criticised for the amount of funds set aside for development in the state budget which were said to be less than expected compared with the amount allocated for the operating expenditure.
A few weeks ago, things came to a head again between Khalid and Azmin over Azmin's termination as a director on the board of state property developer Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor.
Azmin blamed Khalid for dropping him as a board member but Khalid claimed it was the corporation’s decision.
An investigation is currently underway to get to the bottom of the issue. –January 29, 2014.
Posts
0 Komentar untuk "PKR must give ‘overwhelmingly good reason’ for Kajang by-election, says Ambiga"