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 ©The
Straits Times, Singapore (Used by permission)
by Leslie Lopez, South-east Asia Correspondent
He says would-be BN defectors' support for his alliance is
growing
KUALA LUMPUR - OPPOSITION leader Anwar Ibrahim insists that
support for his Pakatan Rakyat alliance is growing among politicians and parties
from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government, and that a change of
government will take place before mid-September.
In an interview with The Straits Times yesterday, he also said that Umno leaders
were showing signs of desperation by stirring racial tension and harping on the
sensitive issue of the possible erosion of Malay rights should the opposition
take over the government.
'We won't fall into the trap of racial politics. This fanning of Malay
chauvinism is a clear sign of desperation on the part of Umno leaders because
they know the prospect of losing power is very real,' said Datuk Seri Anwar, who
also leads the multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat party.
Dismissed as sheer political posturing only weeks ago, Datuk Seri Anwar's claims
of forming a new government by accepting BN defectors to his opposition alliance
are now being taken seriously by senior Umno leaders such as former premier
Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
In recent days, Umno officials have privately said that as many as 17 BN Members
of Parliament, mainly from the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, could
defect to the opposition as early as tomorrow.
'We'll let Umno speculate. We already have the numbers to form the government
and we'll move when the time is right,' Datuk Seri Anwar said, adding that the
opposition-led government could be in place before Malaysia Day on Sept 16 which
commemorates the establishment of the Malaysian federation.
'I stand by that date,' the former deputy prime minister told reporters
yesterday.
He declined to discuss the extent of his support among BN politicians and its
component parties. But people close to the politician say that the number of BN
parliamentarians who could defect is 'in the high 30s'.
The Anwar-led opposition alliance made sharp inroads in the general election in
early March, winning control of five state governments, 82 of the 222
parliamentary seats and just under half of the popular vote.
The opposition coalition needs only 29 defections to secure a simple majority in
Parliament, but people familiar with the opposition leader's political game-plan
say that he is holding out for more defections so that he can put together a
more stable government.
BN politicians speculate that the switch in alliance in favour of the opposition
will most likely take place in Sabah first.
Sabah is a fiercely parochial and ethnically diverse state with a history of
tossing out incumbent governments since the early 1970s.
Over the past decade, there has been widespread disenchantment with Umno because
many Sabahans believe that economic opportunities in the state are being dished
out to business groups linked to the state's Chief Minister, Datuk Panglima Musa
Aman, and his BN allies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Datuk Seri Anwar has promised BN politicians in Sabah and their counterparts in
Sarawak greater autonomy in running their states, including increasing the
petroleum royalties that the state government receives to 20 per cent from 5 per
cent currently.
'These things are powerful pull factors and we are confident that many will take
up the offer,' said Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, who heads the opposition alliance in
the Sabah state.
'With this kind of deal, I am sure the politicians in Sarawak will also have to
consider the Pakatan Rakyat offer.'
Close associates of Datuk Seri Anwar say that he is still undecided as to
whether the defections should be carried out on a staggered basis or in one fell
swoop.
'The current position is that defections in a staggered fashion will help build
the momentum and entice other fence-sitters to the opposition,' said a
businessman close to Datuk Seri Anwar.
The businessman and others close to the opposition leaders say the Pakatan
Rakyat coalition is not in a hurry.
Umno leaders have increasingly issued warnings that the country's ethnic Malays
could lose their privileges should the opposition form a government.
But Datuk Seri Anwar said these concerns are misplaced.
'We are here to uphold the Constitution, including the special position of the
Malays and Islam. There is nothing that the Malay community and the non-Malay
communities should fear,' he said.
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