PKR expects trouble as permits revoked
PKR is expecting trouble at its night ceramahs scheduled for the next few days in Johor, where it is holding its national congress.
PKR is expecting trouble at its night ceramahs scheduled for the next few days in Johor, where it is holding its national congress.
According to party deputy president Azmin Ali, all police permits for events scheduled from tonight to Sunday night were revoked last night.
“We have 15 to 20 events at 14 divisions scheduled every night, with permits given a few days ago, but revoked last night,” he told reporters after officially opening the youth and women’s wing congress at Pulai Spring Resort.
Azmin claimed that he understands that the Johor government had instructed all local councils to stop the events and to cooperate with the police on this front
He also said that flags and bunting put up for the events have been removed, and no reason was given for the cancellation of the police permits.
“We will still go ahead. This proves that Umno uses public institutions for the cause. We are more resolved now,” he said.
PKR will continue their efforts by conducting smaller ceramahs, leafleting and bringing their message door-to-door.
Azmin said that the feedback from previous events in the Umno bastion state gives reason to believe that winds of change are blowing in the south, too.
“Johor used to be known as a BN fixed deposit state... It is not impossible, Selangor, too, was a BN stronghold,” he said of the latter state now governed by Pakatan Rakyat.
Asked if such confidence means that Pakatan has chosen a candidate for menteri besar in Johor, he said: “Let’s win first.”
He said for now, the coalition has only come to a consensus that PKR de facto Anwar Ibrahim will be the prime minister if Pakatan takes over Putrajaya.
He added that the coalition also expects to complete seat negotiations by the end of the year.
“The overlaps are minimal... we are committed to one-on-one fights (with BN) although I warn the rakyat that BN may sponsor some smaller parties to split the votes,” he said.
Some heated and public arguments have ensued over seat negotiations in Johor, particularly between DAP state chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau and PKR state chief Dr Chua Jui Meng.
The state leadership has, however, passed the matter to the Pakatan presidential council.
Cops deny all permits cancelled
When contacted, Johor police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff denied that all permits for PKR ceramahs have been cancelled.
“The ceramah in Taman Daya in Johor Selatan still has a permit,” he said, by way of example.
He said that he knows of only one application for a permit that has been rejected but that is due to “security reasons”.
“I suggest that Azmin contact me and tell me which of the events who have had their permits revoked and who was the officer who revoked it... we are willing to cooperate,” he said.
He also urged Azmin to lodge a police report on the matter.
