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PKR, PAS, DAP form Pakatan Rakyat

Tuesday, 01 April 2008 05:56pm

©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Pauline Puah and Kong See Hoh

PETALING JAYA (April 1, 2008): Leaders of PKR, DAP and PAS today announced their agreement to form Pakatan Rakyat (PR) or People's Alliance, whose policies will be reflected in those made by the state governments of Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Selangor and Penang.

In a joint press conference with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the coalition pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

He said the five states controlled by the coalition will be known as PR state governments.

"The policies of these governments will be in accordance with the policies of PR.”

The former deputy premier said to ensure they are all on the same wavelength as far as these policies are concerned, a convention of all PR Members of Parliament (MPs) and state assemblymen will be held on April 27.

Anwar said a leadership council, consisting of the leaders of the three parties and a joint secretariat consisting of three leaders from each of the three parties, will be set up.

“This joint secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the PR for ratification by the leadership council,” he said.

He said the name of “Pakatan Rakyat” has been proposed pending confirmation by the respective parties.

Asked which party would play a dominant role in the coalition, Anwar said: “The dominant party is the people.”

“Now I am a chair (of the coalition). But there is an understanding that we are equally represented, equal chance to be heard and resolve (issues) on the basic of consensus,” he said.

In 1999, the three parties had formed a loose coalition named Barisan Alternatif (BA) (Alternative Front) to take on Barisan Nasional (BN) in the then general election.

However, DAP left the coalition two years later due to its fundamental disagreement with PAS over the latter’s stance in forming an Islamic state.

Asked how the coalition could work together given the difference in ideologies especially between DAP and PAS, Anwar said the three parties have agreed to work together on a broader principle such as defending human rights and justice for all Malaysians.

When quizzed on what was the difference between PR and BA, Lim who was seated beside Anwar said the people had sent a very strong message in the just-concluded general election that they wanted a change.

“The people support the pledge of the three parties to bring about accountability, transparency, justice and good governance. In response to the very clear mandate and wishes of the people, this is a new political reality we have to address.

“The March 8 political tsunami is very clear that the people would like to see the three parties work together to bring about change.The area of change they want to see is justice, freedom and good governance and was not for Islamic state or Hudud Law.”

Lim said the coalition now could “learn the lesson” from the early attempt to set up a multi-racial front and be able to work together on the common principles.

On the same note, Abdul Hadi said the coalition has to respect the signal sent by the people in the general election.

When quizzed whether PAS would abandon his stand in setting up an Islamic state, Abdul Hadi appeared to be evasive.

“This issue should not be played up out of proportion which would cause anxiety …The most important thing is the objective and the practical (work) of a government, not the name of it,” he said.

Pressed further, Abdul Hadi said the Islamic state was not stated in the party’s constitution.

Anwar said the media should not harp on the issue and “give us a chance to prove that this coalition can work together”.

Other leaders present were PKR president and Anwar’s wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye, PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, central committee member Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, DAP organising secretary Tan Kok Wai and Negri Sembilan DAP chairman Anthony Loke Siew Fook.