Conditional talks yes, but no unity gov't
Rahmah GhazaliPublished: Jun 13, 2009 11:47 AM | Updated: Jun 14, 2009 7:24 AM
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated today that there will be no unity government with arch-rival Umno even though Pakatan Rakyat is prepared to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to break the political deadlock in Perak.
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated today that there will be no unity government with arch-rival Umno even though Pakatan Rakyat is prepared to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to break the political deadlock in Perak.
Anwar is also quick to add that should there be any unity talks with Umno, it could only be held if Umno-led BN “stops all the cruelty, reforms the judiciary and the Election Commission”, echoing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement two days ago.
Should those conditions are met, he said that there should be no problem for the government and the opposition to hold discussions.
“But I would like to stress that there is no such thing as forming a unity government with them,” said the PKR de facto leader at the party’s extraordinary national congress at the Selangor International Islamic University College in Bangi today.
According to Anwar, he had contacted Abdul Hadi after the PAS 55th Muktamar in Shah Alam last Sunday and both agreed that PAS will continue to stay with Pakatan despite the Islamic party professing different policies.
“I have discussed at length with Abdul Hadi about this before I came out with a statement saying all three Pakatan parties will remain together,” he said.
Anwar added that Pakatan is ready to listen to the prime minister’s views on the ongoing political crisis in Perak “if they too are prepared to listen to us.”
On Thursday, after facing mounting opposition to his pro-unity talks proposal, Abdul Hadi set a few conditions before his party would meet Umno.
He said that the talks could only take place if the BN government free the judiciary and the media and respect the doctrine of separation of powers.
PKR is holding a one-day EGM to discuss bold changes to the party constitution which will introduce direct elections, term limits to party posts and a 30 percent quota for women in the leadership.
The special meeting is attended by 1,009 party delegates from the divisions.
Some councillors ‘have gone over the line’
In kicking off today’s EGM, Anwar lashed out at party members who have gone to the media to criticise Pakatan-led governments, especially Penang and Selangor.
Anwar lamented that some “appointed councillors have gone over the line”.
“If a member wants to criticise the state government, like in Penang, they should voice it through the appropriate channel...,” he said.
Last week, eight out of nine PKR's Seberang Perai (MPSB) councillors boycotted the swearing-in of the council’s new president, Mokthar Mohd Jait, because he was a civil servant.
The vexed councillors claimed that it was agreed previously that a politician be put at the helm until local elections are introduced.
PKR whip Johari Kassim had even accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was responsible of the appointment, of ignoring his party and acting as if "he was running a DAP, and not a Pakatan state government."
Trouble is also brewing in Selangor when PKR’s Petaling Jaya (MPPJ) councillor A Thiruvenggadam exposed dubious dealings between the state government and solid waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd in the awards of contracts.
‘Threats from our own people’
Anwar also ticked off PKR leaders who are blatantly seeking party and government posts.
He revealed that at the Bukit Selambau by-election two months ago, local leaders had issued threats should they not be selected as the candidate for the state seat.
“They said if there were not selected as the candidate, they would leave the party and become independent or support the independent candidates instead,” he said.
Some Indian leaders had also objected to PKR candidate S Manikumar and vowed to boycott PKR in the by-election.
“There was one Indian leader who insisted that we make their choice as our candidate, but we ended up picking a candidate who would take care of all races,” he said.
Although Anwar did not refer to any individual in particular, he was obviously referring to former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national coordinator RS Thanenthiran.
Thanenthiran has since formed a new party called the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party.
Anwar is also quick to add that should there be any unity talks with Umno, it could only be held if Umno-led BN “stops all the cruelty, reforms the judiciary and the Election Commission”, echoing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement two days ago.Should those conditions are met, he said that there should be no problem for the government and the opposition to hold discussions.
“But I would like to stress that there is no such thing as forming a unity government with them,” said the PKR de facto leader at the party’s extraordinary national congress at the Selangor International Islamic University College in Bangi today.
According to Anwar, he had contacted Abdul Hadi after the PAS 55th Muktamar in Shah Alam last Sunday and both agreed that PAS will continue to stay with Pakatan despite the Islamic party professing different policies.
“I have discussed at length with Abdul Hadi about this before I came out with a statement saying all three Pakatan parties will remain together,” he said.
Anwar added that Pakatan is ready to listen to the prime minister’s views on the ongoing political crisis in Perak “if they too are prepared to listen to us.”On Thursday, after facing mounting opposition to his pro-unity talks proposal, Abdul Hadi set a few conditions before his party would meet Umno.
He said that the talks could only take place if the BN government free the judiciary and the media and respect the doctrine of separation of powers.
PKR is holding a one-day EGM to discuss bold changes to the party constitution which will introduce direct elections, term limits to party posts and a 30 percent quota for women in the leadership.
The special meeting is attended by 1,009 party delegates from the divisions.
Some councillors ‘have gone over the line’
In kicking off today’s EGM, Anwar lashed out at party members who have gone to the media to criticise Pakatan-led governments, especially Penang and Selangor.
Anwar lamented that some “appointed councillors have gone over the line”.
“If a member wants to criticise the state government, like in Penang, they should voice it through the appropriate channel...,” he said.Last week, eight out of nine PKR's Seberang Perai (MPSB) councillors boycotted the swearing-in of the council’s new president, Mokthar Mohd Jait, because he was a civil servant.
The vexed councillors claimed that it was agreed previously that a politician be put at the helm until local elections are introduced.
PKR whip Johari Kassim had even accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was responsible of the appointment, of ignoring his party and acting as if "he was running a DAP, and not a Pakatan state government."
Trouble is also brewing in Selangor when PKR’s Petaling Jaya (MPPJ) councillor A Thiruvenggadam exposed dubious dealings between the state government and solid waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd in the awards of contracts.
‘Threats from our own people’
Anwar also ticked off PKR leaders who are blatantly seeking party and government posts.
He revealed that at the Bukit Selambau by-election two months ago, local leaders had issued threats should they not be selected as the candidate for the state seat.“They said if there were not selected as the candidate, they would leave the party and become independent or support the independent candidates instead,” he said.
Some Indian leaders had also objected to PKR candidate S Manikumar and vowed to boycott PKR in the by-election.
“There was one Indian leader who insisted that we make their choice as our candidate, but we ended up picking a candidate who would take care of all races,” he said.
Although Anwar did not refer to any individual in particular, he was obviously referring to former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national coordinator RS Thanenthiran.Thanenthiran has since formed a new party called the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party.
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