Pakatan sticks to BN-bashing ahead of key meet
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
Barisan Nasional (BN) bashing was the focus of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) star-studded rally last night, as opposition leaders gave strong hints as to the focus of their convention later today.
Leaders from all three PKR, PAS and DAP wasted no time last night in attacking the federal coalition as they listed down all of BN’s “transgressions” — top of the list being Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “unlawful” suspension from Parliament as well as the WikiLeaks’ sex expose on the PR de facto leader’s on-going sodomy trial.
Last night’s rally also saw old issues such as the recent fuel hike and the giving away of Malaysia’s oil blocks being trotted out again as campaign fodder, in what is seen as the clearest sign to snap polls yet.
Leaders also pushed forward the idea that the country’s only hope was through the leadership of Anwar — and effectively, PR.
“Anwar must become prime minister, to save Malaysia from Barisan Nasional. A prime minister for reformation,” boomed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, drawing applause from the rally’s attendees.
Response to the last night’s event saw roughly 2,000 people turning up, most of whom were senior citizens and staunch PR supporters.
Anwar said he would continue to link APCO to the One Israel.
Although the event boasted of top leaders like PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Mansor Osman and newly-appointed PKR deputy secretary-general Badrul Hisham Shaharin (Chegubard), the crowd only began warming up during Lim’s speech.
Anwar, although visibly tired, put on a fiery speech as he explained his side of the story with regards to his APCO Worldwide claims in Parliament.
“They can hang me for six months, I do not care. I will fight harder. They suspended Azmin Ali too for six months; for what? Because he just mentioned about APCO’s letter.
“Well you know what I’m going to do? I am going to print and give out copies of the proof that I have that APCO is behind the One Israel concept, and connected to the Israeli regime. What can they do? Nothing,” said Anwar to a thunderous applause from the audience.
The Penang-born politician accused the BN coalition of possessing the characteristics of a “jahilliyah” (pagan) society, and describing BN’s blatant abuse of power in denying an accused person the right to defend himself as evidence of his claim.
“These are the characteristics of a Jahilliyah society…they do not respect the rule of law,” said Anwar.
On Thursday, the PKR politician had called APCO “untouchable,” and blamed the firm for the suspension of four MPs including himself last Thursday in Parliament.
Anwar also accused APCO of lying to Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee in its letter to the panel.
Anwar was suspended from Parliament amid loud protests and a walkout by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs who called the Dewan Rakyat a kangaroo court.
The suspension was over his claim earlier this year that APCO had been behind both the 1 Malaysia and One Israel concepts.
A separate suspension motion also cited three other PR lawmakers for contempt, for revealing and discussing the proceedings of the Rights and Privileges Committee on Anwar’s APCO claims.
Recent leaked US diplomatic cable from whistleblower website WikiLeaks has also caused great concern among PR leaders, as the leaked cables revealed that top Singaporean officials believed that Anwar had committed sodomy despite being fully aware that it was a “trap” set by his “political enemies.”
Anwar, however, dismissed the leaked cables had any impact, blaming Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia for blowing the news out of proportion.
He claimed local news reports had failed to mention the leaked cables were also critical of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and said the latter had failed to respond to the WikiLeaks’ expose.
“Do not get carried away with the news. With all the reports about me, Najib has yet to respond to the WikiLeaks’ data about him, and his connection to the murder of Altantuya (Shaariibuu).
“How can he say there’s no need to respond to WikiLeaks? There is a need to, obviously; we have to defend the country,” said Anwar.
