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”

The PAS Kelantan state government plans to compel Muslim government workers to pray 5 times a day as required by their religion, an official said today.

Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Muslims who shirk their prayer obligations “are not fearful of Allah and are susceptible to committing bribery and other sins.”

Kelantan is planning to introduce a law to force Muslim government workers to pray 5 times a day, said the MB’s aide Anual Bakri Haron.

He said details on how to enforce the plan will be finalised later.

Kelantan has been ruled since 1990 by the conservative PAS, which has implemented strict morality rules such as banning gambling, nightclubs and rock concerts. — AP

Geert Wilders‘ 12-min film, Fitna, explores Kornic motivations for terrorism, Islamic universalism, and Islam in the Netherlands. ”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”

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang welcomes Pas suggestion for cooperation between the two parties, reports Sin Chew Daily.

The only condition and principle was “no implementation of Islamic country and the hudud criminal procedure code,” said Lim Sunday (16 Mar).

He said the election results showed the people’s willingness to see the cooperation between DAP and PAS. Therefore, DAP is willing to comply with the situation and review the cooperation model with PAS. ”Continued”

Perak Menteri Besar-designate Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of PAS turned up at the ”What’s Coming Next” political forum held in Ipoh last Sunday and immediately stunned the Chinese crowd by speaking in Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil, then in English and Malay.

The audience was speechless then gave the PAS leader a rousing applause. The forum was organized by Guang Ming Daily, Sin Chew Daily, Eye Asia and Sin Chew-i and held at Dewan Dou Mu in Ipoh at 2pm and attracted 3000 people. Speakers included PKR national vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye, Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong and Sin Chew’s Deputy Chief Editor Tay Tian Yan.

Mohammad Nizar, an accomplished enginneer, was not a speaker but was invited to the forum by Ngeh. (Sin Chew Daily)

Malaysia’s opposition has reached a deal over control of northern Perak state, officials said Friday, ending days of squabbling and averting a split among the alliance members, reports AFP.

Malaysia’s three-party opposition seized four more states and a third of parliamentary seats in March 8 polls, and the unexpected gains presented them with the difficult task of forming workable coalitions to rule.

In Perak they squabbled over the selection of chief minister as well as the make-up of the state cabinet, but after threats of boycotts and walkouts all 31 elected assembly members signed a power-sharing agreement.

"All the three parties signed their allegiance to the decision. Everything is OK, there are no more problems," said Ahmad Awang, state commissioner of the Islamic party PAS.

The Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) won most seats in Perak, but state law says the chief minister should be a Muslim Malay, so they have settled on a PAS candidate to take up the role. ”Continued”