Jusuf slams Anwar’s polls stance

(NST) – Former Indonesian president Jusuf Kalla has expressed disappointment with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he said had rejected his defeat  and any form of reconciliation with his rivals in Barisan Nasional.

Jusuf’s disappointment was conveyed yesterday by Indonesia’s former law and human rights minister, Hamid Awaluddin, who was quoted by the online portal of an Indonesian national daily, Republika.

“Yes, of course Pak J.K. (Jusuf) is disappointed but (he) is in the midst of trying to bring things back to normal,” Hamid was quoted as saying.

He explained that Anwar had promised Jusuf that the former would control his opposition coalition if he was defeated by his rival, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who chairs the BN coalition.

Republika said since the election was over, the Pakatan pact led by Anwar had been holding rallies in various locations nationwide, claiming electoral fraud.

Anwar and his supporters had cast doubt on the running of the election, something which Republika said needed to be substantiated through legal means.

“However, Anwar has yet to move towards that line (proving his claims).”

Hamid said Anwar had from the beginning given the perception that he was confident of victory in the polls, based on surveys conducted prior to it.

Anwar had cited these surveys during his campaign and this was reported widely by the people and media.

“This was among the reasons the opposition leader was confident of victory,” said the daily.

It claimed that it was Anwar’s confidence in claiming victory which led to him “approaching” Jusuf, who was a long-time friend of Anwar.

Republika said Jusuf, through Anwar, wanted to convey to Najib that there needed to be graciousness on the part of those defeated in the polls.

It said whoever won the Malaysian general election needed to reconcile with those who were defeated and that the “losers had to appreciate the winners”.