SHAH ALAM, 13 Aug: The integrity of a leader, the voice and interests of the people are far more important that the political interests of the party.

National historian, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Prof Dr Khoo Kay Kim, said that this is because the people is the most important component in a democratic country and it certainly requires a leader with integrity to provide the best services to the people.

“In a democratic system, the most important thing is the people. A politician must serve the people because the people’s voice is more important than political parties.

“For me, integrity is also more important than political parties,” said Prof Dr Kay Kim when contacted by Selangor Kini.

He said this when touching on the issue of the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who was sacked from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) because he refused to comply with the party’s orders to resign.

Prof Dr Kay Kim explained that Abdul Khalid, who does not represent any party, can also obtain the consent of the people to enable him to continue to lead the Selangor Government administration.

“Being fired is according to the party, but if he does not agree, he can go back to the people to ask whether the people still want him or not. If the people agree that they want him, he can continue,” he said.

However, Prof Dr Kay Kim did not clarify whether it is through a State Election, general survey or by obtaining public opinion.

Prof Dr Kay Kim added that the people of this country should understand the real meaning of democracy.

“Politicians should serve the voters and not themselves. Politicians who work for themselves cannot be accepted by the people. That is the system of political democracy,” he added.

Prof Dr Kay Kim added that the people should not be too respectful of a political leader like respecting a leader in the past because politicians are chosen by the people to serve the people.

NS