KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — The Elections Commission (EC) must probe former Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh for resigning to make way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia said today.
Awang Selamat, the nom-de-plume of the daily’s editors, said in its column that if such move is not censured, it will encourage more unexplained resignations by lawmakers in the future.
“Chin Cheh must not be let go without any detailed investigation including for elements of graft,” it said in the Sunday edition of the daily, Mingguan Malaysia, here.
“The possibility could not be dismissed easily because PKR’s reputation is already ugly and rotten.”
Awang also described the decision as allowing democracy to be “sodomised” freely, in apparent reference to the opposition leader’s renewed trial over a sodomy accusation.
“Must everything be sodomised—persons, systems and values? Keeping quiet about this is like being an accomplice and allowing ourselves to be the victims,” said Awang.
In a surprise move on Monday, PKR’s Lee resigned as Kajang assemblyman resigned without reason to pave way for Anwar to contest the by-election.
Despite the latest developments, the Selangor government and Anwar have continued to deny that Khalid will be removed as MB.
While popular with the general public, Khalid’s penchant for unilateral decision-making in administering the country’s wealthiest state is understood to be a source of dissatisfaction among PR leaders in the state.
PR currently holds 44 of the 56-seat Selangor state assembly, with PAS and DAP having 15 seats each, while PKR has 13 after Lee’s resignation.
