MEDIA STATEMENT
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 convincingly voted the Barisan Nasional (BN) government out in GE14.
To accept them into Pakatan Harapan (PH) now would be a betrayal of the Rakyat who wanted a real change, not merely a cosmetic one where many old faces are a part of the new government.
I wonder if PH were to lose the next elections would our MPs do the same and so easily jump over to the other side?
The issue here is not so much whether these UMNO representatives deserve to be a part of PH in the event they were to join one of our component parties, but how such cross overs 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 i.e. that UMNO today lacks direction is laughable as just as recent as 8 months ago, UMNO to them was their one and only direction.
The more PH entertains these cross overs, the more disillusioned the Rakyat will become with PH.
Change 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.
PH does not need these former UMNO representatives. It needs more men and women of principles to further it’s 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.
Dated this 13th of December, 2018.
RAMKARPAL SINGH
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
BUKIT GELUGOR
CHAIRMAN NATIONAL LEGAL BUREAU
DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY