Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) will hold its 36th national congress this weekend. Its president Dr Syed Husin Ali speaks to malaysiakini about the party's role in the post-Mahathir era and how the soon-to-be-merged Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will position itself to become the leading opposition force in the country.

Malaysiakini: In view of the impending merger with Keadilan, this may be PRM's last congress. What would be the main focus of the meeting? Please state the issues.

Syed Husin: This may not be the last congress after all, depending on when the Registrar of Societies' approval (for the merger) will be obtained and how positively the new party develops into an integrated and united entity at all levels.

I shall be dealing with the issues focused for this year's congress in my policy speech. So I do not wish to preempt it. But they will be related to the post-Mahathir political and economic scenario, building of Parti Keadilan Rakyat as the leading force in the opposition movement to effectively meet future challenges and strengthening the opposition movement to ensure better performance in the forthcoming elections.

There seems to be a general perception that the official launching of the merger is being delayed over critical issues that both parties fail to see eye-to-eye, such as the issue of women in its Youth wing. What is your comment?

Actually, the main and real reason was technical, that is the unavailability of venue, and not political. Of course there were and will likely remain some differences among members of PKR.

Admittedly, there was an unresolved problem between the Youth wings of both parties, but it was already understood that this would not obstruct the merger.

Fortunately, the problem is now being ironed out, and I am confident it will finally be resolved in the meetings of Keadilan and PKR committees around the middle of July.

By the way, the official launch of the new party is now scheduled for the beginning of August. An announcement will be made by leaders of both parties soon.

Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor recently said the 'contentious' issue of women members in PKR's Youth wing would be left to the party leadership to decide. What does he mean by that? In your opinion, are there any prospects of the party leadership actually resolving this issue in the near future?

Yes, the prospect of the leadership resolving this issue is good. May I also add that the Keadilan Youth exco has already agreed to the formation and operation of the PKR Youth exco with almost immediate effect.

If you do not agree with the above, what then is your justification for the delay in the official launch of the new party despite the two presidents signing a memorandum of understanding last year.

Why should I offer any justification? This question is now irrelevant, because the political bureau (transition) of the new party has already set a date and venue for the official launch. If this venue is suddenly withdrawn, as it happened the last time, we are now prepared with an alternative plan.

The idea for the merger was born during the height of the reformasi period, when the popularity rating of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was at its lowest. Now that he has announced his resignation, is the merger still relevant? If yes, please tell us how.

The Umno-Barisan Nasional government is not going to change its basic structure and policies just because Mahathir leaves.

I think the well-entrenched present system of government will continue, and so too with the injustices, violation of human rights, mismanagement, environmental degradation (and even flash floods if you may), corruption, cronyism, concentration of wealth and power, increasing socio-economic inequity and social problems, growing discrimination against the poor and the majority of those in the lower and middle classes, constant threat of ethnic tension (even conflict) to the promotion of genuine national unity, and so forth.

The idea of the merger goes well beyond the wrong idea of politics intended merely to support or overthrow any particular individual. We are talking about policies and what is best for our people now and the coming generations, irrespective of ethnicity or beliefs.

I grant that individual leaders can become a symbol. But the symbol must not be raised above everything else. Instead it should serve to advance a movement and promote its policies.

Please state PKR's political vision in the post-Mahathir era. How would the party position itself in the new political era when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi assumes the premiership?

I think this has been largely answered in the last question. But I wish to add something else. The post- Mahathir era will see a weaker leadership and a more divided Umno-BN with more limited resources for economic development.

PKR will have to present itself pro-actively as a better alternative, and must convince the people by exemplary leadership, good pro-people policies, and (show that) it is capable of doing better for the country and people than the wasteful, corrupt and unjust Umno-BN.

We certainly will have to strive very hard to establish a new Malaysia based on justice, freedom, democracy, equal opportunity, people's welfare and national unity. But first of all, it has to provide leadership, first to the opposition movement.

What are PRM's or PKR's immediate task after the merger takes place? Are there any plans at the moment?

The immediate task will be to establish a strong party organisationally and politically, where women and youths will play important roles. There is a lot of organising and training work to be done internally. This needs a lot of dedication, hard work and sacrifice. At the same time elections is just around the corner, so we must be prepared realistically for it, in order to perform well and to deny two-thirds majority for the BN in the coming Parliament.

During the recent Umno annual general assembly, Mahathir criticised the West and warned of the threat of neo-colonialism. But right after the meet, the government announced a 100 percent equity for industrial capital. What is your comment?

Mahathir, true to the Umno and BN coalition he leads, often does not reflect in action what he preaches. In other words, 'Cakap tak serupa bikin'. He shouts anti-US slogans, but as prime minister signed a secret defence agreement in 1984 with Casper Weinberger, the then US Defense Secretary.

Malaysia is also very dependent on the US and other Western countries for its export, domestic investment and foreign exchange. He uses President Bush's global war against terrorism to detain people without trial under the ISA (Internal Security Act).

Mahathir is committed fully to crony capitalism, and certainly he knows that one way of promoting it is to have greater collaboration with foreign capital, notwithstanding that it can undermine the interest of our people, especially the workers.

We are not against foreign capital as such, but we want it truly for the development of the country and the good of the people. The government policy now is clearly putting the interest of the minority in control of power rather than the ordinary people, and the profit of capital rather than the welfare of ordinary workers who have only their brain and brawn to offer. We do not want this country to become an international laughing stock for practising double standards and hypocrisy.

What is PRM's or PKR's position on the Anti-Terrorism Centre in Malaysia?

This centre was mooted originally by the US government and announced by Collin Powell, the US Secretary of State, during his visit at the height of Bush's global anti-terrorism campaign.

This centre has the danger of serving the interests of the neo-imperialist power, which Malaysia's top leaders pretend to hate so much. Worse still, it can become the tool of government to justify the imprisonment and suppression of genuine political/social activists as well as democratically instituted political parties.

Former ISA detainee Hishamuddin Rais recently proposed the idea of 'tangkap-tangkap' (arrest) Mahathir. Does PRM or PKR share his view?

Well, one of these days, if he lives long enough and God willing, Mahathir's past will catch up with him. Do you expect Dollah Badawi (the incoming premier) to 'tangkap' (arrest) him?

Of course both of them have sorted out between themselves how best to protect their mutual safety and interests. I believe that when the time comes, even Mahathir needs to be treated with due justice and fair play. We do not believe in revenge. But I am sure Hisham is only providing a rallying cry, which has its use.