How Perak's GANG OF FOUR Fooled Malaysians and Voters in their Constituencies

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Whatever the outcome of the political imbroglio in Perak, Malaysians should remember these names ( and their faces) forever.

1. Datuk Nasharudin Hashim,
   
   
2. Mohd Osman Jailu,
   
   
3. Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and
   
   
4. Hee Yit Foong

They represent the worst species of politicians:

• self-serving;
  
  
• greedy;
  
  
• unprincipled;
  
  
• cowardly and
  
  
• dishonest.

How else would you describe politicians who go begging for votes wrapped in the colours of their political party, who rattle off reasons why Umno, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP deserve to win, only to repudiate everything they told the voters less than 12 months later?

They are as despicable as Barclays Premier League footballers who kiss the badge of their club before adoring thousands only to demand a transfer 24 hours later for a bigger pay packet.

1. Datuk Nasharudin Hashim
   
   
   
   According to Nasharudin, he took the decision to switch from Umno to PKR after serious consideration of the country’s political situation and in the interest of his supporters and voters in Bota. Sure he did.
   
   The fact that he had been forced to give up his parliamentary seat and the chairmanship of Felcra to Datuk Tajudin Rahman did not factor at all in his thinking to switch camps.
   
   Why he did a pirouette today is anybody’s guess?
   
   But rest assured it was not because he had a higher calling.
   
   At a press conference in Putrajaya today, he rambled on: ”The situation in the state is critical. I have to make sacrifices.’’
   
   Sure he did.
   
   
2. Mohd Osman Jailu,
3. Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi
   
   Then there is the case of Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin.
   
   
   
   Hard to believe that two individuals as slippery as these two managed to persuade the voters of Changkat Jering and Behrang that they were worthy of support in March.
   
   That’s what happens when the political wave comes in, it brings in deadwood, sludge and flotsam.
   
   The fact is that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR were challenged to field a decent crop of candidates in Election 2008. So they left the bar low. The result: a motley crew of elected representatives.
   
   For months Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin have been planning and scheming to leave PKR, no doubt prodded by Umno/BN officials who were seeking to narrow the three-seat majority which Pakatan Rakyat enjoyed in the state assembly.
   
   Those who believe in conspiracy theories say that the duo are hoping that by going independent and backing the BN, the corruption charges against them will disappear.
   
   No one knows their motivation except that they put their interest above everybody else’s.
   
   Worse yet, they behaved like fugitives, hiding from their families, friends and constituents like common criminals and then offering insulting excuses.
   
   Jamaluddin said that he was incommunicado because he was having back problems and was seeking treatment in Pahang.
   
   He also said that he is loyal to PKR. A day later, he resigned from PKR.
   
   Should anyone trust a lawmaker like him? Should any voter trust him or Hee the next time they stump for votes?
   
   In life, we usually treat the unprincipled and dishonest people shabbily. Why should politicians be given a free pass?
   
   
4. Hee Yit Foong
   
   
   
   She was made the Deputy House Speaker or the Perak State Assembly by the Pakatan Rakyat.
   
   When she was found missing by DAP leadership, Hee had said she had merely been visiting her supporters and had turned her handphone off after being continuously harassed by reporters.
   
   She has continued to be elusive, missing a DAP meeting called at the state headquarters as well as the royal function. And she finally turn up in Putrajaya press conference with DPM Najib.
   
   Although reiterating that she has never entertained any intention to defect to BN or to leave the DAP, she expressed doubt over her future.
   
   “I intend to stay, but will they eliminate me? This is not my first day in DAP, and I would be heavy-hearted about leaving the party,” she said.
   
   She has been a DAP member for 22 years.
   
   According to Tony Pua,“It’s clear now that despite claims of not crossing over, Hee was just buying time for BN to get other people on board. She was not able to be reached but only surfaced when her position was threatened by the DAP leadership.”