Undemocratic For Anwar To Try Becoming PM Through Back Door, Says Chandra Muzaffar

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Political scientist Dr Chandra Muzaffar said that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s attempt to become the prime minister through the "back door" by instigating massive crossovers is both unethical and undemocratic.
"A Cabinet established through such an avenue will lack moral credibility. Parliament itself will be tarnished. Both the Executive and the Legislature -- two vital arms of governance -- will be perceived by the people as institutions that are bereft of integrity," he said.
In a nutshell, acquiring power through the back door would demean and denigrate politics, he said, adding that Anwar also had no mandate to oust the democratically-elected government of the day.
Anwar, he claimed, was consumed by a single-minded obsession to become the country's prime minister in the shortest possible time.
Hence his concerted endeavour to persuade Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers in Parliament -- at least 30 of them -- to cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) immediately, the former PKR deputy president said.
"The size and scale of the crossover he envisages is mind boggling. Has there ever been an instance anywhere in the world where a government which has 58 seats more than the combined opposition is under the constant threat of imminent collapse simply because an individual --- who is not even in Parliament --- boasts continuously that a certain number of MPs are going to switch sides by a certain date?" Dr Chandra asked.
He said it was this incessant drive to topple the government through crossovers that had created so much uncertainty in the country in the last few months.
"If the threat of crossovers hangs like a Sword of Damocles over the nations head, it is partly because many Malaysians know that Anwar as a BN and federal government leader at one time had played a pivotal role in the overthrow of the democratically elected PBS state government in Sabah in 1994," he said.
Dr Chandra stressed that although Anwar had stated that his enticement did not involve money or other allurements, it would still be morally wrong for a legislator to cross over since it would be a betrayal of the voters trust.
"In a democracy, a legislator elected on a particular platform should return his mandate to the people and resign his seat before he switches sides. That is what respect for the dignity of the voter means," he said.
Dr Chandra said that it was a pity that such despicable politics has been condoned by so-called principled politicians and committed human rights activists around Anwar.
"They should have tried to convince him that it is more honourable to enter Putrajaya through the front door.
This implies winning the 13th general Election at the federal level and forming the government through legitimate, ethical means," he said.
Dr Chandra said that if Anwar were to enter Parliament after the Permatang Pauh by-election, he should try to bridge the gap that separated the Pakatan Rakyat parties and provide them with a unifying vision and programme of reform that would go beyond cliches and platitudes.
"One hopes that he will also, as the Leader of the Opposition, establish a shadow Cabinet that cajoles and coaxes the BN government to introduce much needed changes. "This is what the people would want him to do. Anwar has no mandate to oust the democratically elected government of the day through the back door."

tunku : may be dr chandra forgets that anwar always like to enter from the back.what dr chandra said is very true. if anwar wants to be the pm, win the 13th general election and be the pm.no one can question that but if he is to be a pm through back door, disaster awaiting malaysia. there could be political unrest,racial unrest etc. the country will be in havoc. again i guess anwar is weak in mathematic. its easier for bn to get opposition mp then him getting bn's mp. may be he can get few, no doubt but not up to 30 mps.karpal said he is against party hopping so i wonder why he is keeping mum on this issue.