Ibrahim: Bersih out to save Anwar
Ibrahim Ali claims that the Bersih rally is a reflection of Pakatan Rakyat’s political agenda.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Perkasa chief, Ibrahim Ali, said the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 is purely a political stunt to rescue Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
He told a press conference today that the list of Bersih leaders was a clear reflection of Pakatan Rakyat’s political agenda and that placing Ambiga Sreenevasan as coalition president was merely a diversion.
“Everyone else beneath Ambiga are from opposition parties,” he said, waving the list printed by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia. “There is (PKR-Batu MP) Tian Chua and (PAS deputy president) Mat Sabu and (DAP-Seputeh MP) Teresa Kok.”
“This is enough to convince me that Bersih is an agenda to create chaos in the country in order to save Anwar. They have no choice after Sept 16 failed.”
“With Sodomy 2 and the sex video, it has become a matter of life and death for Anwar. It is obvious that he is behind this rally and its illegal agenda to overthrow the government.”
Ibrahim accused Ambiga of taking advantage of the situation but emphasised that Perkasa was not hitting out at her on the basis of race or religion but for her “evil intentions”.
He also strongly denied that Perkasa had spun the rally into a racial issue.
“But you can’t blame people for thinking it is racial because Ambiga has her own record of being anti-Islam,” he said. “So those who see her heading this rally will naturally assume that it has racial overtones.”
The independent Pasir Mas MP also claimed that he had received word of Bersih roadshows being thinly-disguised political campaigns, with the speakers highlighting issues of corruption and price hikes.
He showed the media a leaflet listing government misdemeanours and demanded to know what connection these issues had with free and fair elections.
“They are using bombastic words and slogans to confuse the people,” he said. “I am forced to keep explaining our opposition against this rally because I don’t want the people making emotional decisions.”
“The worst was over for Barisan Nasional in 2008. Things have changed since then. We have a new prime minister, BN has won the majority of the by-elections and Anwar has his own set of problems.”
“The opposition knows it won’t be easy to take over the government, hence this rally has been organised to sustain the previous public anger of the people against the government. And it is being held in the city probably to show that they are able to fight the federal government.”
‘Bar Council is a bastard council’
Ibrahim then proceeded to fire salvos at individuals and organisations that have thrown support behind the rally. The Bar Council, formerly headed by Ambiga, was clearly a sore point for him.
“Bar Council is a bastard council!” he said. “It’s a bastard council of hypocrites and double standard! They only support anything that is anti-government.”
“They created a fuss over the burning of Ambiga’s picture but where were they when the pictures of Abdullah Hussein (author of the controversial Interlok) were being burnt? There was no statement from them. I don’t respect the Bar Council at all!”
Next in his line of fire was Suhakam chairman, Hasmy Agam, whom Ibrahim branded as being liberal without being responsible.
