FINE MPs OR STATE ASSEMBLYMEN WHO RESIGN WITHOUT VALID REASON

KOTA BAHARU (Malaysia), April 21 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission (EC)
should fine state assemblymen or Member of Parliament (MP) who resign without
just cause or a valid reason.

MP for northern constituency of Jerlun, Mukhriz Mahathir, said resignation
of assemblymen 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 or People's Justice
Party) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail decided to give up the post to her
husband Anwar Ibrahim, a former Malaysian deputy prime minister.

"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 Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and
Industry, also welcomed his father, former prime minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad's suggestion that ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front/BN) should
contest the Penanti seat.

The Penanti seat fell vacant following the decision by former northern state
of Penang deputy chief minister 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, may
be we should contest after all, because we still have supporters in Penanti," he
said.

Prime Minister 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