PAS, PKR, DAP all for an audience with Agong

(Harakah Daily) – Responding to a call by the Agong for all quarters to go to the negotiating table, Pakatan Rakyat leaders have lent support to Bersih’s decision to seek a meeting with the Agong to explain the coalition’s demands on electoral reforms.

PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang said the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the rally planned for July 9 was due to the traditional media’s campaign against the event.

“Such a misunderstanding has led to provocations by several parties to give the impression that the situation is out of control to the extent that the country’s law is no longer respected by the authorities,” he said.

The intense crackdown on Bersih’s second major rally this Saturday took a twist yesterday after the Agong called on all quarters to engage in negotiations. This followed an earlier statement by deputy inspector general Khalid Abu Bakar declaring that all doors to negotiation had been “closed”.

Bersih has listed eight demands on the Election Commission, including a total revamp on the controversial “postal vote” which critics say has been always manipulated.

‘All countries undergoing reforms except ours’

Welcoming the Agong’s advice to rally organisers to rethink their plan and for the government to act with justice and wisdom, PAS, said Hadi, was grateful for the Agong’s concern in his capacity as the head of the Federal constitution.

Hadi urged an investigation into the basis of criticisms over the country’s electoral system, saying all parties must face the realities about the system’s weaknesses with open heart.

“This is inline with Tuanku’s decree that the government should carry out their responsibility entrusted to it by the people in a just and wise manner.

“The protest is mooted because there are too many weaknesses in the Malaysia’s electoral practice tainted by cheating, corruption, power abuse and an undemocratic media,” added Hadi, who said election abuses had increased recently.

Hadi said that while other countries “have undertaken much reforms on their electoral systems and democracy for the good of their people”, Malaysia appeared to be taking a step in the opposite direction.

DAP to Najib: Heed Agong’s call

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang welcomed the Agong’s intervention in the war of words between the rally organisers and its detractors, namely UMNO Youth, Perkasa, the police and the government, who so far arrested close to 200 people, mostly for wearing the yellow Bersih t-shirts.

Lim urged prime minister Najib Razak to heed the royal advice and meet Bersih 2.0 leader to find a solution to improve the country’s election system.

He added that such a meeting was crucial to address public concerns over free and fair elections in the run-up to the 13th general election.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali also expressed the party’s readiness to seek an audience with Tuanku Mizan before July 9.

“I’m glad that Dato Ambiga (Sreenevasan) is now seeking an audience with the King and Pakatan Rakyat will also do the same so that we can bring our evidences and proofs to back our explanations”, said Azmin, who is also the Gombak member of parliament.

Earlier, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee decided to seek an audience with the Agong.

“We will communicate with Agong before making our final decision,” the coalition representing more than sixty groups of various backgrounds said after a discussion in Petaling Jaya.