KOTA BARU, 17 Feb 2009: PAS believes that the offer by Elizabeth Wong to resign from her post as Selangor state executive councillor and vacate the Bukit Lanjan state assembly seat following the posting of her nude photograph on the internet as an act of a highly principled person.
PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said it was also a moral act by Wong after her integrity was tainted by the posting of the photograph.
“Pakatan Rakyat has its own moral standard which must be adhered to and I consider the move by the Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson as a principled and moral act,” he told reporters at his office, here today.
It was reported that Wong, 37, who is the chairperson of the Selangor State Committee on Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, would discuss her resignation with Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
Commenting on the issue, Husam said PAS sympathised with Wong and described the individual who had posted her photograph on the internet as someone who was immoral.
Asked whether the issue would affect PAS and the coalition between the party, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Husam said it would have no effect at all on the coalition as what transpired was something unexpected.
He said the efforts by certain elements to discredit the coalition was also something positive as it enabled the coalition to correct whatever weaknesses they had.
Meanwhile, Husam denied that he had made a deal with the Penang police not to give a talk in Sungai Nibong, yesterday.
“I did not do anything wrong and had in fact given a ‘ceramah’ for almost an hour without raising any sensitive issue,” he said.
In this context, he was prepared to be investigated under Section 27 of the Police Act and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act.
Penang Police Chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob was reported yesterday as saying that he did not rule out the possibility of the police taking statements from Husam and the state PAS commissioner, Salleh Man, as they were believed to be involved in an illegal gathering in the state.
In ALOR SETAR, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he was puzzled by Wong’s offer to step down as she had said she was not guilty and that she had been framed.
“If she is innocent and had been framed, why should she resign? Let the police investigate first,” Liow, who is also the Health Minister, told reporters after visiting the Pokok Sena Health Clinic, about 30 kilometres from Alor Setar.
He also called on the people not to speculate on the case, including linking it to a political agenda of certain parties as there were numerous possibilities on the matter. — Bernama
See also: PR blames BN over nude photos
PKR’s Elizabeth Wong resigns (updated 4.45pm)
Eskay says
If Khir and Azalina honestly demand Elizabeth to resign on reasons of morality, what’s your reaction and response towards an MP who groped a lady’s bottom in public view in a hotel coffee-house?
What about a VIP who married a second wife illegally in a neighboring country and then burnt the marriage documents when she sued him for maintenance later on?
Or what about a VVIP who escaped through the window in only his underpants to escape a raid on the seaside motel by the morality police some years ago?
All these three are still holding very important posts in the govt.