My fellow Malaysians,

The fifth of February of the year two thousand and nine will be a day remembered by all. It was the day when the rakyat of Perak were robbed of their democratic and constitutional right to determine their own government.

It was the day when the actions of four state assembly persons resulted in the collapse of an democratically-elected government.

Yes, we can argue that Pakatan Rakyat have themselves to blame. Their rhetoric, aimed at destabilising the federal government by threatening defections had come back to haunt them.

Pakatan leaders and supporters need to search deep within themselves and admit to themselves that, indeed, they were wrong to condone and support the idea and maybe the effort initiated by their de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

They must also admit their mistake in celebrating and accepting the Bota assembly person when he left Umno to be with PKR, albeit for a very short while.

Call it fate, call it karma, call it being caught in one’s own rhetoric, call it anything but the truth of the matter is that Pakatan will have to live with not having the higher moral ground in which to argue against the defections.

Yet whatever Pakatan had done prior to this does not legitimise what Barisan Nasional and Umno did in Perak. Indeed, two wrongs do not make a right.

The ‘cloak and dagger’ Machiavellian way in which Najib Abdul Razak, Umno and the three ‘independents’ seized power in Perak is nothing short of appalling and an affront to the democratic practices of the country.

Pakatan may threaten to take power at the federal level, but it is Barisan Nasional that has to live with having their hands tainted with the fiasco in Perak.

Some have also argued that the ‘removal’ of Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak menteri besar is unconstitutional. The legitimate government of Perak, as elected by the people, should therefore be defended until it is removed constitutionally.

Not because we should sympathise with Pakatan, not because Pakatan is the victim but simply for the fact that we should not allow anyone, be it Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat, the police or even the rulers themselves, to deny us our rights.

My fellow Malaysians,

Never forget the faces of the four, who for whatever reasons, enticements, bounties or rewards, became accomplices to the crime committed that day.

Henceforth, these four who have betrayed their constituents for a few pieces of silver shall cease to have a political career. They will have to live to the end of their days forever branded as traitors to democracy.

My fellow Malaysians,

Never forget the fifth of February of the year two thousand and nine. The day when our voices were ignored, the day when our democratic right was denied, the day when democracy was buried under the guise of legitimacy and royal decree.

Etch the day deeply in your minds. For when that time comes, they will come face to face with the rakyat . When the that time comes, those that saw fit to take from us what is rightfully ours shall be repaid in full.