The resignation of Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh to allow PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest the seat is a betrayal of trust, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) said in a statement today.
Describing Lee's and Anwar's actions as "shocking", it said the matter reeked of dirty politics and "should be condemned".
"Lee's resignation is nothing short of a betrayal of trust, given that less than eight months ago, the people of Kajang voted him in on the premise that he would remain the state assemblyperson for the next five years.
"The only acceptable reason for elected representatives to resign is when he or she is not able to carry out the mandate given to them, that is to serve the people."
Lee handed his resignation on Monday to State Assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh following speculation that Anwar was going to contest the seat and later take over as Menteri Besar.
Earlier today, PKR announced that its de facto leader Anwar would be contesting for the state seat.
"The reason for Lee's resignation reflects poor judgement on the part of the candidate, as well as the party he belongs to," Bersih said.
The coalition likened the situation in Selangor to the 2009 Perak Constitutional crisis where Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong had quit DAP to become an independent aligned to the Barisan Nasional.
Her defection, along with two others, had contributed to the fall of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government and its replacement by a BN-led one.
"There is little difference between the actions of Lee and the actions of former DAP assemblyman Hee Yit Foong in the 2009 Perak Constitutional crisis. Both actions are equally deplorable," Bersih said.
"It is disappointing that PKR, one of the victims of the crisis, is the key player in this sorry saga."
Bersih 2.0, led by co-chair Maria Chin Abdullah (pic), also drew attention to the cost of holding a by-election, saying that PKR's actions would cause public funds to be "unnecessarily wasted".
"Bersih 2.0 is 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."
The interest of the people of Kajang, the election watchdog said, had taken a backseat for political survival.
"This is 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 mandate given to an elected representative by the people is something that should not taken for granted. It is disappointing that in the midst of this political merry-go-round, the people's interest, like many times before, is forgotten," it added.
Earlier today, Anwar announced he was contesting the Kajang state seat.
There was speculation that a state by-election was in the offing to make way for Anwar to be part of the state legislative assembly, paving the way for him to take over as menteri besar from Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Both Anwar and Khalid have denied this. - January 28, 2014.
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