Gerakan cries double-standards over Penang anti-hopping law
Koh asked if the proposal was “for show” only. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon today criticised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for practising “double-standards” on a proposal to enact the state’s anti-hopping law.
“Where is the consistency? I did not see (DAP stalwart) Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng protest when two MPs (members of parliament) from the Sabah BN (Barisan Nasional) jumped into the Pakatan fold.
“So, why practise double-standards now. Is he doing this for (merely for) show?” he asked.
Last month, MPs Lajim Ukim of Beaufort and Wilfred Bumburing of Tuaran quit their parties and formed new political groups that were supportive of Pakatan Rakyat.
Speaking to reporters at Menara PGRM here, Koh said the anti-hopping law went against the principle of freedom of association guaranteed by the Federal Consitution.
He added that MPs should be given freedom to associate with any party.
Recently, Lim announced that his state government was planning to legislate against party-hopping to prevent “frogs and tadpoles” from breeding in Penang.
“If Lim was really serious about enacting this law, then he should first criticise (Pakatan Rakyat leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on why he (Anwar) kept silent when BN MPs jumped over to the Pakatan fold,” noted Koh.
Meanwhile, on Gerakan’s list of candidates for the coming general election, the party president advised potential candidates not to do “anything stupid” and create anger among the people, failing which they would be dropped from the list.
Asked whether Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe would contest in Taiping, he replied: “That will be confirmed later. We have not decided who the candidate is, but we are working in various constituencies to achieve victory.”
Asked if he would change his mind and become a candidate, Koh said he would remain consistent with his earlier decision of not contesting in the general election but would continue to assist BN achieve victory.
On the Taiping parliamentary seat dispute between Gerakan and People’s Progressive Party (PPP), he said PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas had written to him stating that PPP would not contest in Taiping.
Taiping, which had been Gerakan’s traditional stronghold since 1974, was “loaned” to PPP in both the 2004 and 2008 general elections.
Kayveas won the seat at the 2004 general election with a 2,172-vote majority but lost to DAP’s Nga Kor Ming at the 2008 general election, with a 11,298-vote difference.
“We will return the Gerik parliamentary seat to Umno and Gerakan will take back Taiping,” said Koh.
BN compensated Gerakan for the loss of the Taiping seat with the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency in 2004, and gave the party the Grik parliamentary seat in 2008.
Both the “compensated” seats were originally allocated to Umno. — Bernama
