Nothing more unprincipled or dishonourable than to reduce the PR Selangor MB crisis into a game of numbers when the greatest challenge is to restore public trust and confidence in PR

There is nothing more unprincipled or dishonourable than to reduce the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor Mentri Besar crisis into a game of numbers when the greatest challenge facing PAS, PKR and DAP leaders is to restore the badly-damaged public trust and confidence in the Pakatan Rakyat through a reaffirmation of the PR common policy platform and principles of justice, freedom, accountability, transparency and good governance as the basis of new politics in Malaysia.

It is most repugnant and obnoxious for anyone to try to fish in the troubled waters of the PR Selangor MB crisis by entertaining the proposition that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim join PAS or DAP so that PAS or DAP can lay a claim to the post of Selangor Mentri Besar, even with Khalid continuing as Selangor Mentri Besar.

No self-respecting political party or political leader would ever consider such a dishonourable proposition which would be the final straw to destroy all public credibility in the Pakatan Rakyat and I am most gratified that all the three Pakatan Rakyat component parties of PAS, PKR and DAP have reaffirmed their commitment to Pakatan Rakyat after the expulsion of Khalid from PKR yesterday.

This is the time to save Pakatan Rakyat, when PR leaders, whether from PAS, PKR and DAP must exercise even greater discipline to demonstrate their commitment to the principles and objectives of Pakatan Rakyat, and not to do or say anything which could be used by the enemies of Pakatan Rakyat to undermine and destroy the alternative political coalition, which won 52 per cent of the popular vote in the 13th General Elections in May last year, winning three state governments of Kelantan, Penang and Selangor, 89 Parliamentary seats and 229 State Assembly seats in 12 states (not including Sarawak).

Undoubtedly, Pakatan Rakyat is faced with its worst crisis since its formation after the 12th General Elections in April 2008 and whether PR can survive and resolve the Selangor MB crisis in the shortest possible time will depend on the political integrity and sense of honour of PR leaders to stay true and loyal to the original principles and aspirations in the formation of Pakatan Rakyat “to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race, as enshrined in the Constitution”.

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah