Anwar vows to ignore King’s remarks
While the opposition leader “appreciates” the King’s remarks, he however believes it is prepared by the government.
Anisah Shukry, FMT
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today announced a June 15 rally in Kuala Lumpur to protest the alleged fraud in the elections despite the King wanting Malaysians to accept the May 5 polls results.
In dismissing Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s remarks, he claimed the text was prepared by the Barisan Nasional-led government, and not the King himself.
“While we do appreciate the remarks by the King, we understand that the text is prepared by the government desperate to solicit support from all areas possible,” Anwar told a packed press conference at the PKR headquarters here today.
“The King’s speech is normally prepared by the Prime Minister’s Department, cleared by the prime minister, and submitted by the prime minister to the King,” he added.
But Anwar said if necessary, he would write a letter to the King to explain how Pakatan Rakyat was compelled to hold the rallies due to the “excessive fraud” in the election.
On Saturday, Tuanku Abdul Halim said that the act of casting doubts on the Election Commission was “very dangerous and might cause a never-ending conflict”.
“Don’t weaken and destroy our constitutional monarchy system, parliamentary democracy and federal philosophy which all this while have formed the basic ingredients for Malaysia’s success,” the King said in a speech carried live by RTM that night.
Support is not waning
Anwar said the Pakatan secretariat would negotiate with Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and security forces to ensure that the June 15 rally would be peaceful.
He also rubbished claims that support for the protests had been waning, insisting that the post-general election rallies had attracted a “far larger and different set of supporters, particularly among the young” as compared to the rallies during the election.
“What makes you think [support] is waning? I was in Kuala Terengganu, I was in Alor Setar, Batu Kawan, Penang, Ipoh…it was phenomenal support,” he told FMT.
But he added that the numbers were irrelevant, and the core issue was the “principle” behind the rallies.
Critics have urged Pakatan to end their rallies and focus on gathering evidences of election fraud and filing an election petition with the courts.
But Anwar said filing the petition was just “one method” to deal with the electoral fraud.
Meanwhile. PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said that the party would be filing 14 petitions, PKR 18 petitions and DAP three petitions.
