Politics 101 Malaysia

Commentary by Joceline Tan, July 16.

A split has formed at the highest level of the PAS leadership over whether the party should leave Pakatan Rakyat and align itself to Umno and the Barisan Nasional.

The difference in stand has pitched party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang against Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Abdul Hadi is the leading figure of the group in favour of negotiations with Umno whereas Nik Aziz is the figurehead of the group that is against working with Umno. They have been issuing conflicting statements on the matter the last few weeks.

A source close to the Kelantan PAS leadership said the standoff between the two groups was so great that Abdul Hadi left for London two weeks ago to seek advice from Ikhwan or the Muslim Brotherhood. ”Continued”

by Baradan Kuppusamy, malaysiakini, July 11.

That opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim can draw the crowds in spite of fresh allegations of sodomy levelled against him was proved at last week’s massive anti-fuel price hike rally. But cracks are showing up in the hurriedly formed three-party opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Will Pakatan last or will it break up under the stress of the radically different ideologies of its three main partners?

An incident at the anti-fuel hike rally is indicative of the tensions within Pakatan which consists of Islamic PAS, Chinese-dominated DAP and Anwar’s Malay-led PKR, which professes a liberal democratic ideology.

As part of the protest, a rock singer showed his buttocks that angered the puritanical Islamists and a punch-up broke out. The band was escorted out, the Islamists calmed down and the programme continued. But the incident showed up tension within the alliance cobbled together by Anwar two weeks after the March 8 general elections which saw the ruling coalition giving ground to the opposition parties. ”Continued”

by NOOR HAYATI MUDA, BERNAMA

Ever since Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor and de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was accused of sodomy by his former aide, the leaders of the two other opposition parties in the coalition pact basically agreed that the issue be settled through legal means.

However, there have been no indications that they have accepted the allegation to be unfounded.

Hence, the question arises as to how far the DAP and PAS would remain loyal to PKR in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if Anwar is found guilty of the offence in the court of law.

The loyalty of PKR leaders and members towards Anwar, meanwhile, cannot be denied as the party had emerged out of the struggle to free Anwar 10 years ago when he was faced with the first sodomy allegation and abuse of power when he was still in Umno and the deputy prime minister then. ”Continued”

By Angus Whitley (Bloomberg) April 15.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he has convinced about 30 lawmakers from the ruling coalition to join an alliance that would topple Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government.

Anwar, a former Malaysian deputy premier, is attempting to win over lawmakers from the multi-ethnic ruling coalition to his opposition group.

Anwar plans to wait for more lawmakers to switch before attempting to form a government, he told reporters late yesterday after addressing 20,000 people at a rally in Kuala Lumpur that was broken up by police.

We are ready,'' Anwar said.We want the numbers to be that meaningful so that it is comfortable for us to lead.'’ ”Continued”

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.

Also present was the new parliamentary opposition leader, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is PKR president and Anwar’s wife.

"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. ”Continued”

Malaysia’s opposition said Monday that up to 16 ruling party lawmakers are prepared to join its ranks, as it works to seize power with the help of defectors.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has said he is moving towards forming a new government after elections that saw the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - led by the United Malays National Organisation - suffer unprecedented losses.

“We have up to 15 to 16 lawmakers from BN, including UMNO MPs, who want to join Keadilan,” Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin, the youth leader of Anwar’s Keadilan party, told AFP.

The government, which would lose power if 30 of its lawmakers switch sides, has reacted swiftly to the threat, accusing the opposition of “buying” over its members and threatening a new law to prevent defections. ”Continued”

Up until the weekend, PKR Selangor has promised the DAP four Exco posts.

Now Khalid say DAP will only get three spots, Pas 2-3 and PKR 4-5.

Furthermore the MB will decide if he wants a deputy MB.

If he doesn’t, DAP’s nomination of Teresa Kok is gonna be a waste of time.

I have a feeling Khalid and PKR are trying to grab everything to expand the party’s influence.

Politics of patronage is it, Khalid? 

This just gets better and better. Wooohooo.

Meanwhile, Nurul has just thumped Shahzirat!

by Tony Thien, malaysiakini, Feb 19.

 

Opposition PKR and DAP look almost certain to head for three-cornered fights in at least four of the seven Chinese-majority parliamentary seats in Sarawak if last-minute negotiations should fail.
 
State PKR chief Dominique Ng Kim Ho, who is the state assemblyperson for Padungan, told a press conference of the party’s intention to field candidates in Bandar Kuching and Stampin in Kuching, Sibu and Miri, apart from the remaining 15 Malay, Melanau and Dayak seats.
 
The national leaders of the two parties are still holding last-minute negotiations in Kuala Lumpur to avert a clash in Sarawak.
 
But sensing that the state DAP is unlikely to concede even a single Chinese-majority seat, Ng told reporters that he himself would contest in Bandar Kuching against the DAP incumbent Chong Chieng Jen and Barisan Nasional-SUPP’s Allan Sim. ”Continued”