Pakatan Rakyat’s rally a tame affair

Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge

A subdued atmosphere enveloped Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) gathering at the Kelana Jaya Stadium yesterday evening in yet another indication that political fatigue has set in.

As at 10.30pm, an hour into the programme, there was a crowd of over 3,000 at the stadium to listen to ceramahs by key opposition figures.

PR personalities scheduled to speak included Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang.

However, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was also set to speak, was absent at press time.

The reception at last night's ceramah was a stark contrast to PR's last mass gathering at the same venue nine months ago, on the eve of Anwar's much publicised Sept 16 "takeover" of the federal government.

A crowd of 10,000-strong that thronged the stadium then clapped, cheered and wave the Malaysian flag each time a speaker drove home a point. This time around, cheers and applause were few and far in between.

The ceramah is seen as an attempt to shore up support for the opposition ahead of the Manek Urai by-election and Anwar's sodomy trial, as well as to keep the Perak political crisis fresh.

Among the PR leaders in attendance were PAS vice-presidents Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub, PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and new PKR member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.