Ku Li: Not right way to take power

By Malaysiakini
Feb 5, 09 2:56pm
Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has warned party leaders that gaining the Perak state government without resorting to elections would result in enmity of the Perak voters come the next general election.
MCPXRazaleigh, who is also Gua Musang MP, said Umno and BN should try and win the hearts of the people and not gain the government by dubious means."If the Ruler decides not to accede to the MB's request for the dissolution of Parliament, and BN is invited to form a state government on the basis of these dubious crossovers, I think it would anger a large section of the Malaysian public," said the Kelantan prince in his blog."Our taking control without resorting to elections would cement the enmity of the very people we should be trying to win back at the next election. Come the next general election, they are likely to reject both our state and parliamentary candidates with greater vehemence, and not just in Perak."Calling the BN celebration as "premature", Razaleigh said the constitution states the role of the Ruler in crisis must be respected.He said the Sultan of Perak is sworn to uphold and protect this constitutional process and the Ruler's powers and those of the legislative assembly act as checks and balances on each other to prevent abuse of power."Defections are not the basis for the formation of a government. Elections are.""Governments are formed after citizens have expressed their choice through free and fair elections. Our constitution specifies a formal process for the formation of a government," said the Gua Musang MP.Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is the newly-appointed Perak BN chief, called on Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and the Pakatan Rakyat-led government to step down.Umno in critical conditionThis follows three assemblypersons, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang), declaring they are independent BN-friendly representatives. Nasaruddin Jamaludin who left Umno last week to join PKR has now rejoined Umno after 10 days.Razaleigh said there is also ethical and political issues which has to be resolved.Describing Umno as in critical condition, he said its biggest challenge both as a party and as the governing party is to tackle corruption at every level."We are under close public scrutinity in addressing this problem. Unless we implement radical reforms and are seen to be doing so, we are finished politically come next election," he said.The Kelantan prince questioned the calibre of the four elected representatives for the switch especially the two former PKR representatives who are charged with corruption."It is precisely this kind of open abuse of the public's trust for the sake of personal gain that causes people to hate Umno.""The circumstances of these defections, complete with mysterious dissapearances, sudden reversals, and weak explanations show ample signs of illegal inducement."Razaleigh said no matter what the truth of the matter is, let us not fool ourselves."People will not believe these crossovers were honest. This mistrust will taint any government formed on the back of these crossovers. Elections are the sole source of the government's authority in a democratic society and in the end we shall have to face elections," he said.