KUALA LUMPUR: Respect the democratically-elected government and uphold the reform agenda which was promised to the rakyat.
Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament Maria Chin Abdullah said that all elected representatives of Pakatan Harapan (PH) must uphold their commitment and promise to voters of the 14th General Election (GE14), as they had placed their trust in the coalition and ensured PH's win.
She said instead of focusing on succession, elected MPs from the coalition should honour their promise and work towards restoring the rakyat's powers, ensuring equal prosperity, and executing the reforms as pledged prior to winning the GE14.
In a statement this morning, Maria said that it is vital for PH to stay firm to its commitments and ideals, to galvanise the grassroots and to rise above fights over premiership.
She said PH was given the trust of the rakyat on the promise that it stands as a united coalition of four equal parties plus Warisan, with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as his successor.
This, she said, was reiterated by Dr Mahathir on Friday and echoed by the coalition’s leadership and PH Presidential Council, which had put their faith in him to decide on the prime ministerial succession date.
"If reorganising the coalition is necessary, it must only be done by consensus. Pakatan Harapan’s spirit of shared prosperity and realising democratic reforms must be maintained.
"It is imperative for elected representatives to remain committed to: (a) Focusing on the economy, institutional reform and the everyday challenges facing the rakyat, such as the rising cost of living and the eradication of poverty; and to (b) Respecting the present democratically-elected government and allowing it to function fully," she said in reference to speculation in the media that a new coalition to include Barisan Nasional is being considered by Dr Mahathir.
Maria acknowledged that challenges persist and many reform policies, such as the vision of economic equality, clean and fair elections and the elimination of corruption from all aspects of public life, remain to be instituted.
"So, any change other than the commitment to the rakyat must follow the democratic electoral process. Any attempt to do otherwise will go against the will of the people," Maria said in voicing her concerns over the uncertain political climate.
It is learnt that grassroots PH supporters are disheartened by rumours of a new coalition which will see a union with members of the former Barisan Nasional government.
Speculation has it that members of the PH coalition and Anwar have been excluded from the “new merger”, which would preclude the PKR president’s ascension to the premiership.