GEORGE TOWN: A DAP lawmaker has cautioned that the recent exodus of Umno representatives switching their allegiance to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a dangerous development and completely against the will of the people who voted the Barisan Nasional (BN) government out in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Bukit Gelugor member of parliament Ramkarpal Singh said to accept them into Pakatan Harapan (PH) now would be a betrayal of the rakyat who wanted real change, not merely a cosmetic one where many old faces are part of the new government.
Ramkarpal, who is also DAP national legal bureau chairman, also questioned if PH were to lose the next elections, would their MPs do the same and easily jump over to the other side.
He said the issue was not on whether the Umno representatives deserved to be a part of PH in the event they were to join one of its component parties, but how such crossovers would reflect on PH’s commitment to reform and change.
“These Umno MPs were a part of a system that PH has committed to change. In order to do so, we have to first clear the decks and allowing them into PH would be the complete opposite of this.
“The reason given by these representatives for their departure, that Umno today lacks direction, is laughable as just as recently as eight months ago, Umno to them was their one and only direction.
“The more PH entertains these crossovers, the more disillusioned the rakyat will become with PH. PH does not need these former Umno representatives. It needs more men and women of principles to further its noble agenda of reform.
“It is hoped the prime minister takes heed of the dissatisfaction of the rakyat in entertaining these former Umno representatives as it would be a great betrayal to them not to,” he said in a media statement on his Facebook page.
Change, Ramkarpal said, does not only mean prosecuting the former premier and his deputy for alleged offences on their part, but more importantly, the dismantling of policies and eradication of corruption that has become rampant under Umno rule for decades.
On Wednesday, five members of parliament and nine state assemblymen from Sabah announced their departure from Umno effective immediately.
The MPs were Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Datuk Zakaria Idris (Libaran) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang).
The assemblymen were Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Datuk Japlin Akin (Usukan), Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor (Sulaman), Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar (Kawang), Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Datuk Matbali Musbah (Lumadan), Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan) and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).
Two Sabah Umno senators Datuk John Ambrose and Datuk Ghani Yassin also left the party.
A majority of division heads have also joined the exodus.