Bersih has slammed lawyers defending the embattled Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, one of whom is the electoral reform group's own steering committee member.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said she was "disgusted" at Khalid's legal team's move to file a complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against PKR for sacking him from the party, which  holds the risk of the party being deregistered.

"It is a low-down tactic and being human rights lawyers, Edmund Bon and New Sin Yew should know that the ROS and its processes are fundamentally against the freedoms of expression and association.

"This unacceptable action violates human rights, and they should know better.

"I strongly recommend that Edmund (Bon, left) and Sin Yew stop violating the very principles of human rights that they so-called claimed to support. Edmund and Sin Yew - both of you have a choice to make," she said in a statement today.

Maria added that New, a Bersih steering committee member, did not represent the electoral reform group in his views.

When contacted, New said he will only weigh in on the criticism when matters calm down.

"I will only comment at a later date because everyone is very emotional right now," he told Malaysiakini.

Khalid is adamant on staying on as menteri besar despite PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail having shown that she has the state assembly majority with 30 representatives - 13 from PKR, 15 from DAP and two from PAS - in the 56-member Selangor assembly.

PAS sexist?

Maria said the country's parliamentary system is based on political parties and head of governments can be replaced by the ruling coalition at any time.

"As Selangor is not a presidential democracy, Khalid has no direct and personal mandate.

"By not only shamelessly clinging on to power, but further announcing the sacking of five executive councillors (exco) from PKR and DAP, Khalid Ibrahim has doubly denounced democracy and betrayed the electorate," she said.

Maria said as Pakatan has proven it still has the majority, the monarch can swiftly appoint the coalition's new chosen leader Wan Azizah (right) to end the state leadership crisis.

She added if the remaining 13 PAS state assemblypersons who are still backing the party-less Khalid recognise that Pakatan now has the majority support, it can help stop the Selangor crisis from deteriorating further.

Maria said if PAS was indeed against Wan Azizah because she is  a woman, then it is "sexist, baseless and goes against the grain of the federal constitution which forbids gender discrimination under Ariticle 8(2)".

PAS this week denied that Wan Azizah's gender was the issue with their acceptance, but declined to elaborate on their true reasons.