Gerakan, the first to speak out against DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang's idea for a new coalition post the passing of hudud law in Kelantan, says the party may be suffering the ‘seven year itch’.

 

The Pakatan Rakyat coalition - formed before the 2008 national polls - is seven years old this year, and may be "itching for a new lover", mused Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh.

 

"Is DAP about to divorce PAS and is already seeking a new girlfriend?" quipped Baljit ( left ).

 

Yesterday, Lim Kit Siang pondered if the time had come for a ‘ Save Malaysia’ coalition federal government.

 

This new government, said Lim, should comprise MPs from both sides of the political divide who will defend constitutionalism and rule of law.

 

The Gelang Patah MP mulled that the prime minister could come from either side, but quickly added this was his personal view and not DAP's stand.

 

Baljit said politicians from both the political divide must not only work but work together after elections for the betterment of the people.

 

However, he realised that since 2008, most were politicking for their own political survival.

 

"Everyone's on overdrive trying to prove their worth and in the process, the people suffer or are hoodwinked by the politicians," he told Malaysiakini .

 

He called on politicians not to be swayed but be consistent at all times, even if the issues confronting them, like hudud, were controversial.

 

'Marriage of convenience'

He recalled that the late lawyer and DAP national chairman Karpal Singh was truly consistent in opposing the implementation of hudud in Kelantan, citing violations against the Federal Constitution.

 

This is despite DAP leaders like Lim and his son, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, ( right ) were "sleeping" with PAS in a "marriage of convenience" to garner votes for the May 5, 2013 general election.

 

Baljit said the country cannot afford a coalition motivated by race or religion, nor should this nation be further divided by two legal systems.

 

"There is more to our lives than hudud. Just because hudud was passed in Kelantan, it becomes a do or die thing for DAP, until it is willing to give up its fight against Umno and unite with it?

 

"If this happens, would Malaysian politics would be polarised into Muslims and non-Muslims or those who support hudud and those who do not? This is something we can ill afford.

 

"What about issues of economy, development and corruption that affect the people? Are we going to put these all aside just for hudud?" he queried.

 

'Rudderless government'

Lim had made the remarks based on his view that BN and the federal government is rudderless under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, whose major initiatives had been "discredited and in tatters".

 

Pakatan, he admitted, is now facing its biggest crisis ever since its supposed ally PAS tabled the amendments to the 1993 Syariah Criminal Enactment at the Kelantan legislative assembly on Wednesday.

 

It was passed with PAS, Umno and the sole PKR assemblyperson voting unanimously for it, much to the chagrin of DAP.

 

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is requesting to table the hudud bill at Parliament in the current sitting.

 

However PKR has decided to stand with DAP to reject its tabling, as Pakatan had not agreed to it.