From BA to PA (People’s Alliance)
Top leaders of opposition parties PKR, DAP and PAS have agreed to form a new coalition called Pakatan Rakyat or People’s Alliance.
At a joint press conference this morning, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said the leaders will now take the proposal back to their respective parties for approval.
Anwar, who was flanked by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the People’s Alliance will hold its maiden conference after the proposal has been endorsed by all three parties.
"Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution," said Anwar.
He said the governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor would now be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments.
"The policies of these governments will be conducted in accordance with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat," he said.
"We have developed and strengthened the structure of Pakatan Rakyat by creating under the leadership council - consisting of the leaders of the three parties - a joint secretariat consisting of three leaders from each party.
"This joint secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the Pakatan Rakyat for ratification by the leadership council."
Anwar said that a convention of all Pakatan Rakyat representatives to Parliament and the state assemblies will be held on April 27.
‘Don’t harp on Islamic state’
Hadi sought to play down PAS’ Islamic state policy by arguing that this was not part of the party’s constitution.
Despite repeated questioning, neither Hadi, Lim nor Anwar could confirm if PAS is about to abandon its ambition to form an Islamic state.
“The media should be looking at the (PAS) administration of Kelantan and Terengganu which has been accepted by people of all faiths. They have accepted that we practise fairness and equality without leaving any group behind,” said Hadi.
Anwar stressed that the Islamic state issue has not been raised by PAS for several years now and that the coalition would only deliberate on issues explicitly raised by the three parties.
“Why harp on the issue and provoke them to respond? To be fair, should PAS still make (it) an issue, it is okay for us to repond. But as I see it, they have not made this an issue for years,” he said.
Lim said the emphasis is to focus on "common principles among the three parties".
“The message of the March 8 elections is very clear. The people want to see the three parties work together and bring about change… they want to see change in the area of justice, democracy and good governance,” he said.
“The message of the people is not for an Islamic state or hudud law. I think the message is very clear on that. That is the basis of (the three parties) coming together.”
Asked if the three parties are equal partners within the coalition, Anwar said any problems within the three parties would be ironed out collectively.
He dismissed any suggestion that he is the leader of the group, saying he was merely their spokesperson for today’s press conference.
He also said that it was too early to say if the three parties would contest under a common banner in the future.
My suggested name for the coalition
PAS = Parti Islam SeMalaysia
DAP = Parti Tindakan Demokratik
PKR = Parti Keadilan Rakyat
= Parti Tindakan Rakyat
People’s Action Party !
That will give some people a heart attack…LOL..:-)
Comment by kittykat46 — Wednesday, 02-04-2008 @ 12: 27.06
I support any coalition that willing to carry out rightful rules and regulations to manage and improve our country base on humanity, fairness,quality living,security.we failed for 50 years and tears if the situation remain curse! Let religion go to religion,country management should be distinction and fair to all
Comment by toomanycook — Wednesday, 02-04-2008 @ 13: 37.54
“Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Anwar.
The constitution is violating the UN Declaration of Human Rights. It institutes many unequal rights against the Chinese and other minorities. This is simply unacceptable to the Chinese. The PR must pledge itself to get rid of all unequal laws in the constitution. If the PR failed to do this, then they can pretty much kiss their chance of re-election goodbye. Anwar must keep clearly in his mind that the reason why the opposition has garnered so much support this time is because the Chinese and the Indians were sick and tired of the NEP and the inequality under the UMNO-BN and voted against BN as a slapdown against them. If the PR simply take the place of UMNO-BN and continue the same old inequality, then the Chinese and the Indians will have no reason to vote for them again. For what would they vote for the PR again if both PR and BN are the same in their marginalization of the Chinese and the Indians?
In old Roman times, conquering generals parade through the street of Rome on a chariot. Standing behind him in the chariot was a slave holding a golden crown above his head while whispering constantly in his ear that ‘all glory is fleeting.” If Anwar did nothing in the next 4 to 5 years to get rid of the NEP and change the constitution to restore equal rights, then his “glory” will surely be fleeting.
Comment by Liang1a — Thursday, 03-04-2008 @ 07: 06.32
Lim Kit Siang must also keep in mind that the Chinese had voted for DAP as a slapdown against MCA. If DAP simply endorsed ‘ketuanan Melayu’ like MCA and continued to deny that there is marginalization of the Chinese, then the Chinese will not vote for it again. 切記切記!
Comment by Liang1a — Thursday, 03-04-2008 @ 10: 59.08
Pakatan Rakyat. Nice name. Make sure the meaning get interpreted in the action. They should form a shadow cabinet after this.
Comment by Razamith — Thursday, 03-04-2008 @ 11: 55.31
“If Anwar did nothing in the next 4 to 5 years to get rid of the NEP and change the constitution to restore equal rights, then his “glory” will surely be fleeting.”
I wouldn’t be so gung-ho about the whole thing.
The State governments in Penang and Perak have already started taking concrete steps to address the issue of NEP related misadministration.
But PR isn’t in power at the Federal level, so it cannot change the Constitution, it cannot get rid of the NEP, most of which are related to Federal government policy. What it can do is to be a strong advocate for transparency and respect for the rights of all citizens - regardless of race and religion.
Ah yes, the threat of BN/UMNO ending up an opposition
party will help change UMNO’s mentality.
Comment by kittykat46 — Friday, 04-04-2008 @ 09: 38.13
kittycat wrote:
I wouldn’t be so gung-ho about the whole thing.
Gung ho has the nuance of being belligerent. It is not gung ho to want to get rid of inequality and injustice. It is righteous to get rid of inequality and injustice Furthermore, what is the motivation for the Chinese to vote for DAP or PKR next time if nothing is done to redress the inequality and the injustice in the next 4 to 5 years? Nothing! It is for the PR members to understand that it is for them to prove to the Chinese and the Indians that they deserve to have their support. Not the other way around. It is for the PR and especially the Malay component of PR to pull in their arrogance and learn a little humility and see the Chinese and the Indians as their ‘master’ and not their ’servants.’
What the Malaysian political scene needs is a lesson in the people-master and politicians-servants relationship.
Comment by Liang1a — Friday, 04-04-2008 @ 14: 34.54
kittycat wrote:
But PR isn’t in power at the Federal level, so it cannot change the Constitution, it cannot get rid of the NEP, most of which are related to Federal government policy. What it can do is to be a strong advocate for transparency and respect for the rights of all citizens - regardless of race and religion.
Obviously the PR is not in control of the federal government let alone having 2/3 majority needed to change the constitution unilaterally. But by being a strong advocacy for equality and justice it will more support of the people for PR. This will probably cause the UMNO-BN to also take steps to remove NEP as a competition for the support of the people. The end result will be the abolishment of NEP and the start of an era of genuine equality and racial harmony which will then enable the unleashing of the Chinese initiative and ingenuity to rapidly expand the Malaysian economy for the prosperity of all. And thus the PR can motivate the Chinese and the INdians to vote for the PR again.
Comment by Liang1a — Friday, 04-04-2008 @ 14: 43.03
And there is obviously a lot that PR can do at the state level where it has control of the 5 state governments. Employing more Chinese and Indians and other non-Malays can go a long way to set the example for other BN states to follow. Also dispensing more equality in all businesses and awarding of government projects. It will then put pressure on BN to abolish NEP at the federal level.
Comment by Liang1a — Friday, 04-04-2008 @ 14: 47.26