We, the undersigned civil society organisations, are deeply troubled by the revelation of UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that the Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had allegedly demanded dissolution of UMNO (baru) and crossover of UMNO (baru) MPs to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) in a meeting. PPBM supreme council member Abdul Kadir Jasin also claimed that 40 UMNO (baru) MPs might join PPBM.
We believe that any crossing over of MPs from an opposition party to a ruling party, or vice versa, is an act of subverting the collective democratic decision made by the Malaysian voters in the GE14 to bring about our country’s very first regime change in history.
Malaysian voters sent a clear signal in the GE14 that they rejected UMNO (baru)-led Barisan Nasional (BN) for returning to power and instead elected the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition who promised a series of institutional reforms. Therefore, the purportedly cross-over of 40 opposition MPs to the ruling coalition will be a betrayal of people’s mandate, serve only for the self-interest of PPBM and UMNO (baru).
It is also a double betrayal perpetrated by both sides to their respective constituencies, as this is tantamount to the renouncement of their party and/or manifestos, which are two significant factors influencing voters’ decisions in casting their ballots
The historic regime change, a result of uprising of people’s power, will become in vain if politicians from the losing party can effortlessly return to power by simply switching side. What is the point of running on competing manifestos if these political promises are replaceable without consents? What is the point of seeking mandate from the people but eventually betrayed their representation?
PH politicians who cried foul over the controversial crossover of Perak Pakatan Rakyat ADUNs Hee Yit Foong, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Mohd Osman Jailu in 2009 but keep elegant silent over the alleged PPBM’s crossover plan, are either indifferent or hypocritical.
The proposed dissolution of UMNO (baru) and crossover of UMNO (baru) MPs to PPBM, resembles the declaration of UMNO (lama) as illegal entity and crossover of Mahathir’s loyalists to UMNO (baru) in 1988. We want to issue a stern warning to Mahathir that he should not repeat the historic mistake of destroying a political party by manipulating government machineries, which only aim to strengthen his political power at the expense of democratic institutions.
We demand that all allegedly negotiation or threats that entice crossover to be halt immediately. We call upon PPBM to abide by rule of law and respect the spirit of democracy which recognise the essential role of an opposition party. It is time for every political party to play its role as either ruling or opposition party decided by the people in the GE14.
Initiated by Agora Society and Civil Rights Committee of KLSCAH
Endorsed by :
1. Agora Society
2. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
3. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAMAN)
4. Baramkini
5. Damn the Dams Action Group
6. Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisation (PRIMA)
7. Gabungan Pembebasan Akademik - Institut Pengajian Tinggi (GPA-IPT)
8. Gelombang Hijau
9. Gerakan Menuntut Pendidikan Percuma (GMPP)
10. Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
11. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
12. Johor Yellow Flame (JYF)
13. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
14. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
15. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
16. Malaysian Election Observers Network (MEONET)
17. Mamas Bersih
18. Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS)
19. North South Initiative (NSI)
20. Pemuda PSM
21. Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (RAPAT)
22. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
23. Sahabat Rakyat
24. Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)
25. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
26. Sunflower Electoral Education (SEED)
27. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
28. University Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)
29. Youth Era
30. Youth Section of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
31. Youth Section of Melaka Chinese Assembly Hall
Agora Society is a loose network of intellectuals, writers and activists who advance democratic progress in Malaysia through critical analyses and propositions based on the principles of democracy and good governance.
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