Fine reps who resign without valid reason

KOTA BARU, 21 April 2009: The Election Commission (EC) should fine state assemblyperson or Member of Parliament (MP) who resign without just cause or a valid reason.

Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said resignation of assemblyperson and MPs has become a trend among the opposition, apparently to continuously hog the limelight.

Such action however, is a loss to the people and community, results in a waste of money as by-elections should be held while raising the animosity among the parties and people, due to such by-elections, he said.

“The Permatang Pauh episode is one good example whereby a by-election was called merely because former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail decided to give up the post to her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“What the fine should be will depend on the EC. We cannot see a valid reason that can be accepted for such action, including what has happened in the Penanti state assembly seat,” he said.

Mukhriz who is also Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister also welcomed his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion that Barisan Nasional (BN) should contest the Penanti seat.

The Penanti seat fell vacant following the decision by former Penang deputy chief minister (1) Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin who won the seat under PKR, decided to resign, following allegations of corrupt charges brought up against him.

“Although there isn’t a clear indicator as to whether BN can win or not, maybe we should contest after all, because we still have supporters in Penanti,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had earlier said that BN might not contest the by-election for the Penanti state seat as it must first consider whether it would benefit the people or otherwise. — Bernama