(The Malaysian Insider) - The Barisan Nasional government will never use unconstitutional and illegal means to remain in power, the House was told Wednesday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the Barisan government was chosen by the people and it was its responsibility was to serve the people.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the coalition that formed the Government was strongly committed to upholding the principle of "people's power", and protect the sanctity of the Federal Constitution and the laws of the land.
"Barisan will never use unconstitutional ways to to remain in power," he said when responding to a question by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), who asked for evidence that the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally was an attempt to topple the Government.
Nazri said the fact that Barisan had lost several states and did not secure two-thirds majority reflected the integrity of the Election Commission, which had organised elections in the country since Independence.
The minister said the good intentions of Bersih 3.0 to have a peaceful rally was hijacked by the Opposition, whose agenda was to pressure the Government as they were not confident of forming the government through a free and fair election.
"As a pre-emptive measure, they tried to create doubt in the hearts and minds of the people that elections in the country are not free or fair. If they lose in the election, then they will go on to say that their allegations are true," he said.
Lim, who stood up to ask a supplementary question, hit out at Nazri for not answering his question and further asked if the Prime Minister would apologise and retract his statement that Bersih 3.0 rally was an attempt to topple the Government.
"His (Najib's) statemment is a serious one. Does that mean that salt and mineral water (used to relieve the effects of tear gas) can cause the collapse of a Government,” he asked.
Nazri hit back, saying one should not underestimate the "power of salt and mineral water" because the governments of Egypt and Libya fell "by the mere use of handphones".
"These governments did not fall because of bombs, so let us not underrate salt and mineral water bottles. It was clear they (Bersih3.0) wanted to topple the Government through undemocratic means. They raised the emotions of the people, asking them to come to participate in the rally. They were hoping that 100,000 would come and that the Government would fall but this did not happen," Nazri said.
