PKR: Malicious banners meant to destroy Pakatan

Penang PKR has lambasted certain quarters who are allegedly attempting to destroy the good relationship between the party and its allies in Pakatan Rakyat.

State information chief Johari Kassim (right) said that unidentified persons or groups have erected banners around Permatang Pauh bearing the party’s logo supporting PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu over his controversial speech in Tasek Gelugor recently.

The 8' x 3' banners carry the party’s logo and displays the words “We, from PKR Permatang Pauh fully support Mat Sabu’s speech which promotes the communists as the country’s heroes”.

Johari said the only rationale for displaying the banners around town was to create misunderstanding between the allies in Pakatan, causing them to disintegrate, ahead of the impending election.

He condemned the distribution of the banners around opposition leader and PKR Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim’s home state, describing it as “an extremely malicious act”.

“The enemy (Barisan Nasional) is very weak and they are pressured and willing to do anything, including slander (to undermine Pakatan) as the 13th general election is around the corner,” he added.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, created waves with his speech about Bukit Kepong, where he had said that the “police who died were British police”.

“The ones who attacked Bukit Kepong were the real Independence fighters, the one who attacked Bukit Kepong was Mat Indra (Muhammad Indera). He was Malay but the history was hidden,” he added.

Mat Sabu started a series of debates on communism and Merdeka (Independence) and attracted a barrage of criticisms for allegedly praising the communists.

Labelled by his detractors as a communist and terrorist, and after acid threats were made against his family, Mat Sabu decided to sue Umno-owned Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia for a series of articles which has allegedly defamed him.

‘Pakatan to stand firmly together’

Meanwhile, Johari strongly reiterated that no matter what befalls the

Pakatan alliance, the parties - DAP, PAS and PKR - would stand firmly together to face the BN in the next polls, which may be called in November but are not due until 2013.

“Cooperation between Pakatan allies is very important to defeat BN in the coming polls,” he said.

The state PKR Youth is planning to lodge a report over the matter at the Penanti police station this evening.