Remember the four frogs that fooled all

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Whatever the outcome of the political imbroglio in Perak, Malaysians should remember the names of Datuk Nasharudin Hashim, Mohd Osman Jailu, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Hee Yit Foong forever.

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.

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.

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 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?