Indonesia’s SBY concerned about Malaysia’s alleged electoral fraud, says Anwar

ARCHIVES 2013

By MT Webmaster On Jun 17, 2013

(MSN News) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed concern about the alleged fraud in the Malaysian general elections and the impact of Saturday’s Black 505 rally on the country, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said last night.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed concern about the alleged fraud in the Malaysian general elections and the impact of Saturday’s Black 505 rally on the country, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said last night.

The PKR leader told the Black 505 rally in Batu Pahat, Johor, that Yudhoyono (commonly referred to as SBY) had invited him for a briefing and confirmed he did not meet Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was also in Jakarta this past weekend. “There was no previous communication between me and President SBY and I took care to watch the Malaysian government’s ‘face’. I know TV3 and Utusan will spin a story about me being a foreign stooge,” Anwar told the crowd that packed the rally.

“But what is important is that President SBY wanted to know what was happening in Malaysia and issued the invitation due to the increased coverage by the Indonesian media. The feeling there is that the electoral fraud committed was excessive and if it had happened in Indonesia, there would have been a revolt,” he added.

The opposition leader also pointed out that other international groups were also concerned about the results of the May 5 general elections where Najib’s Barisan Nasional won 133 seats, seven less than in Election 2008. Anwar’s Pakatan Rakyat took 89 seats in the 222- seat Dewan Rakyat.

“The European Parliament has passed a resolution to put off signing a Free Trade Agreement with the Malaysian government until all the fraud allegations have been investigated. “Turkey fails to understand why Pakatan which won 51 per cent of total votes cannot form the federal government.”

“And President SBY, wants to know how did the fraud take place. Where can our leaders hide their faces,” Anwar said.

He also said the Indonesians also wanted to know what would happen on June 22 when the Black 505 rally takes place in Padang Merbok in the heart of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. “June 22 is very critical. Everyone, from orang kampong (village folk), to fishermen, farmers and most important of all young Malaysians must come.

“The world, just like Indonesia, is watching.

“Is there going to be a protest. Is it true the people want to clean up the electoral system. Is it true they want to plug up all the weaknesses?

“If we succeed, then God willing, I am sure June 22 will mark a turning point in Malaysia’s cruel political landscape,” the 64-year-old former deputy prime minister said.

Anwar also told the Malaysia Chronicle portal that he did not meet Najib or had communicated through “messengers”. The Malaysian Insider reported that both leaders were in Jakarta for the weekend after plans were made for a possible meeting for national reconciliation.

Anwar insisted there could be no reconciliation until concrete steps were taken by Najib to clean up the system.

“I told President SBY we are not virgins, we know the importance of stability to national security and to the economy but to wait until the next general election to push for change… we might as well wait till Judgment Day as there is no way for any party to mount a fair challenge and win, not with the current Election Commission (chiefs), who are not deserving of their high office,” Anwar added.