Ask, don’t threaten and jostle for seats, says Anwar

(The Star) – Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimslammed those threatening and jostling for seats within Pakatan Rakyat as “having shallow minds”.

Admitting that there were threats and lobbying for seats within the coalition, he said it occurred mostly at the grassroots level.

“One should not threaten for seats but one can request for it,” Anwar said at the Penang Pakatan convention at Komtar here yesterday.

Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that the theme for the state Pakatan manifesto was “Safer, Cleaner, Greener and Healthier Penang” but much of the focus at the event was the surprisingly dismal turnout.

Although about 1,000 members of the DAP, PKR and PAS were expected to attend, there were at most only about 500 attending the event in the morning.

The crowd dwindled progressively after Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng spoke. After Anwar’s speech, there were only about 200 people left.

Lim said the members were tired due to the tight schedule.

“Why do you want to focus on the numbers?” he asked when questioned about the poor turnout.

Meanwhile, in Sungai Petani, about 100 PKR members staged a demonstration, calling for an Indian candidate to be named for the Bukit Selambau state seat.

The group’s spokesman S. Muthu, 38, said the members were unhappy over rumours that Kedah PKR deputy chairman Senator Zamri Yusufhad been picked.

PKR’s Datuk S. Manikumar currently holds the seat.