THE fact that Mukhriz Mahathir is shown the door for the second time as Kedah menteri besar should not be construed as an attempt to usurp democratic conventions.
In social media chatter, the defection of two PKR reps in the state is mischievously labelled an attack on democracy to establish a backdoor government.
Crossing the floor is a universal practice, and happens even in mature democracies. Sometimes, it results in a change of government, and sometimes, it does not. Even in Malaysia, the practice is not exactly alien.
In Sabah in the 1990s, we saw how assemblymen switched sides, purportedly enticed by the kind of generous rewards that have led to elected governments being toppled with just a stroke of the pen. And who were the engineers of the move? Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in power then, with the operation being led by his then close ally, Anwar Ibrahim.
So, who are Dr Mahathir and Anwar to complain about the change in Kedah MB due to reps jumping ship, when they were masters of the game in the past? Is it because Mukhriz is Dr Mahathir’s son and mounting a challenge against Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin in the upcoming party polls?
In 1977, a constitutional crisis brewed in Kelantan when MB Mohamed Nasir from PAS faced a revolt by assemblymen from his own party who wanted him booted from the post. It came to a head, and an emergency was declared in the state.
Let’s not forget Perak in 2009, when the crossover of two Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen triggered the collapse of PAS MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s administration. Is it now wrong for PAS as part of Perikatan Nasional to give back the same medicine to its enemies? What kind of double standard is this?
But the mother of all crossovers in Malaysia has to be Anwar’s September 16 caper. In 2008, fresh from having denied Barisan Nasional its traditional two-thirds majority in that year’s general election, he said he would form a new government by Malaysia Day with BN defectors.
His infamous “I have the numbers” fell flat, as did his dream of becoming PM. So, I find it deeply hypocritical that those castigating the fall of the Kedah government were the very ones who played the game when it suited them. – May 13, 2020.
* Abdullah Yunos is a member of the Bersatu grassroots in Ipoh.
* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.
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Comments
Where's his integrity in betraying the voters that voted for him? Any honourable person would have resign if he wish to jump! Let the voters decide if his decision represents them.
The voters become suckers as they just couldn't do anything when the person they had chosen becomes a frog and jumps!
Posted 3 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply
Why didn't Mukhriz enact the "anti-hopping" law like Penang did?
Why didn't Mahathir enact the "anti-hopping" law at the Federal level?
Then there won't be any "frogging" and PH is still the government!
Posted 3 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply
Right is right, even when no one is doing it
Posted 3 years ago by Aku Lajin · Reply