No-violence challenge
Ng Boon HooiPublished: Apr 1, 2001 11:10 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Barisan Alternatif has issued a challenge to caretaker prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Barisan Nasional coalition to make a solemn pledge of non-violence during the general election campaign. In a joint statement today, it called upon all component parties of BN to join them in renouncing the politics of fear and to desist from all talks of riots and rioting so as to reassure Malaysian voters that their verdict at the polls will be respected irrespective of the outcome.
"The BN is trying to create fear and violence through a controlled media to confuse and panic the public by distorting the truth," said Dr Syed Husin Ali, president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, a key component member of the coalition. Neither side should engage in any violence or dirty politics such as the abuse of the government machinery, especially public television and radio.
The BA was responding to Mahathir's statements and the spate of advertisements in the print and broadcast media today which implied that the election campaign could turn violent and that there will be political and economic instability if the BN government was not voted back into power. The statement was also signed by PAS President Fadzil Nor, Parti Keadilan Nasional President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP Secretary-General Lim Kit Siang.
The Malaysian public should not be intimidated by such tactics, urged BA. "In a climate of fear, the people will not vote in accordance with their real wishes, but give in to blackmail in order to maintain peace," it added.
They are expecting a response from the BN within 24 hours but if it refuses the challenge, Syed Husin said that BA may consider taking the pledge before the Agong by themselves. However, he conceded that it was pointless having a one-sided pledge. "Their failure to respond will be clear proof to the nation who desires peace and who desires violence," he said.
When asked if BA will respond to the advertisements in a similar vein, Syed Husin said that BA would not resort to the same tactics used by BN. "If the BN machinery does not make a commitment to stop (such advertising), we will consider taking legal action," he added.
"The BN is trying to create fear and violence through a controlled media to confuse and panic the public by distorting the truth," said Dr Syed Husin Ali, president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, a key component member of the coalition. Neither side should engage in any violence or dirty politics such as the abuse of the government machinery, especially public television and radio.
The BA was responding to Mahathir's statements and the spate of advertisements in the print and broadcast media today which implied that the election campaign could turn violent and that there will be political and economic instability if the BN government was not voted back into power. The statement was also signed by PAS President Fadzil Nor, Parti Keadilan Nasional President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP Secretary-General Lim Kit Siang.
The Malaysian public should not be intimidated by such tactics, urged BA. "In a climate of fear, the people will not vote in accordance with their real wishes, but give in to blackmail in order to maintain peace," it added.
They are expecting a response from the BN within 24 hours but if it refuses the challenge, Syed Husin said that BA may consider taking the pledge before the Agong by themselves. However, he conceded that it was pointless having a one-sided pledge. "Their failure to respond will be clear proof to the nation who desires peace and who desires violence," he said.
When asked if BA will respond to the advertisements in a similar vein, Syed Husin said that BA would not resort to the same tactics used by BN. "If the BN machinery does not make a commitment to stop (such advertising), we will consider taking legal action," he added.
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