Of the many attempts by the pan-democrats to discredit Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, yesterday's failed motion to look into Lew Mon-hung's allegations against the chief was probably the most embarrassing for them. Just six lawmakers voiced their support for the motion in a debate that lasted only two hours.
But Leung should not mistake the silence from the remaining 21 pan-democrats as a softening of their stance against him because it was probably another example of a lapse of concentration and communication within the camp.
Many pan-democratic lawmakers who were not in their seats were caught unawares when Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen started his defence of Leung. Among those who remained silent was outspoken People Power lawmaker Wong Yuk-man. He rued the missed chance. "I intended to speak and never thought the debate would end so soon. It demonstrates the pan-democrats have no communication at all," he said.
In the end, the motion was defeated as expected, but it will serve as a warning to the pan-democrats to take a long hard look at themselves if they want to be united and fight for universal suffrage.