PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim reiterated today that arguments against political crossovers on grounds of their immorality displayed ignorance of the national political situation.

"Those arguments about morality are banal," he said in robust defense of moves underway for a change of government through defections by government legislators.

salehuddin hashim interview 110408 inverted commas Salehuddin had issued a defense of defections a few weeks back in the face of criticism that the action was morally reprehensible.

"It's sufficient that PKR are not offering any inducements to the potential crossover candidates to defect," he said in remarks to Malaysiakini , joining the burgeoning debate on the morality of maneuvers by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim to form a Pakatan Rakyat government by Sept 16.

"We do not give you anything to induce you to crossover. You cross because you think that by your action you would get a government more responsive to the needs of the nation at this moment of its history," asserted Salehuddin.

‘We need quick, surgical action’

He described the political situation as one in which the BN is governed by the momentum of the past than its control of the present.

"The present situation necessitates quick, surgical action to check the slide in the economy and in our regional competitiveness, and urgent and drastic action to restore the credibility of our criminal justice system.

"Whatever you may say to attack the morality of their crossing over and the motives of the one persuading them to do so, you have to credit them for their realism in coming to grips with what basically ails the nation.

"If they think Anwar holds out hope of urgent correction to the national political situation, it is not something he has extracted from them through coercion or inducement. It is something they have elected to arrive at.”