PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today claimed that state-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) will target him as an anti-Malay over his stand on the New Economic Policy (NEP).

He said RTM will soon begin a series of programmes to defend the NEP.

"They will start a series of programmes to defend the NEP and to attack me for questioning the relevance of the NEP and therefore (by questioning) I am not pro-Malay, I am anti-Malay," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya.

In the past, Anwar has been critical of the pro-bumiputera policy on the grounds that it has been abused by government leaders and failed to achieve its initial objective.

Moving on to party matters, he said PKR will perform even better than in the previous general elections of 1999 and 2004 despite the internal and external challenges.

He said all opposition parties must deliberate on an effective strategy to tackle the ruling Barisan Nasional's "complete stranglehold of the entire system" including the election process and the mass media.

Acknowledging such limitations, he said, PKR and its allies will not only have to "make do" with what is at hand but it will also come out stronger in the upcoming general elections.

"We believe in the democratic process, though the system is repressive," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya.

"I believe we will perform much better than in 2004 and 1999," he added.

PKR secured five seats in Parliament in 1999, but won only one seat - its party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's Permatang Pauh - in the 2004 polls.

No internal crisis

Anwar also denied PKR was suffering from an internal crisis following the departure of prominent figures such as former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor, former treasurer Abdul Rahman Othman and Indian leader KS Nallakaruppan.

He said such reports of a growing split within PKR were expected of the media in view of the upcoming general elections, while the same media did not report on the entrance of such personalities as corporate leader Khalid Ibrahim and prominent lawyer William Leong.

Anwar also declined to respond to criticisms by Ezam of his leadership in PKR, which the former described as 'dictatorial' when not weak.

"That is his view. He is angry," said Anwar of his former political secretary.

He said Ezam had - until his departure from official party posts earlier this year - been committed, made a lot of contributions and served PKR well.

"I wish him well in whatever endeavour," he added.

He described Ezam's differences with PKR vice-president Azmin Ali - whom Ezam accused of controlling Anwar - as a "personal problem" that does not affect the party.

Anwar accused the media of blowing these issues out of proportion.

"I'm not denying the fact that we do encounter problems. I'm not underestimating (or saying) necessarily that these are all trivial issues. I'm realistic in my understanding of politics.

"But what has been portrayed by the national media does not mean much. If you take (such reports) seriously, then the party would have been closed five years ago," he said.

Azmin: We're still friends

He also said the culture in Malaysia of not openly displaying any differences with the leadership had to be replaced by one where leaders accept and tolerate public criticisms.

"This is not the culture that we are bringing up. We have to be able to tolerate this (criticisms). This is not something that is ... understood by the ruling establishment," said Anwar.

Within PKR, Anwar said, its leaders and members have considerable differences over specific public issues but these do not affect its unity and their commitment to the party struggle.

Approached later, Azmin, who was also present, said he was open to communicating with Ezam in order to resolve their differences.

"He is still a good friend. I will try my level best to communicate with him," he said.