Is Pakatan dead or alive? PKR has the answer
Clara Chooi, Malay Mail Online
A senior PKR leader confirmed today that the party’s political bureau reached a decision last night on the ongoing crisis involving allies DAP and PAS that led to a pronouncement of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) death yesterday.
PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said, however, that the party first needs to consult others before announcing its decision to the media.
“Decision reached,” he told Malay Mail Online via WhatsApp. “But we need to consult a few parties. Then we will release statement.”
He was responding to news portal Agenda Daily’s report today claiming that the PKR’s political bureau has yet to reach a decision on the matter, despite meeting since 8.30pm last night.
When asked for further details, Rafizi declined to comment, merely saying in jest that those interested in the matter would have to be left “in suspense” until the party announces its decision.
The Pandan MP also did not respond to a question on whether the bureau’s decision was on PKR’s position in PR or on the pact’s future.
In a statement declaring PR’s death yesterday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for the coalition’s demise, saying the PAS president’s recent actions as well as the PAS Muktamar’s decision to sever ties with DAP meant PR’s Common Policy Framework was broken.
“The DAP central executive committee accepts the PAS Muktamar’s motion severing ties with DAP and effectively, that Pakatan Rakyat ceases to exist,” Lim said.
“The DAP will work with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and all other forces who aspire to see the end of Umno/Barisan Nasional’s one-party rule to reshape and realign Malaysian politics with the aim of winning Putrajaya for the people,” the Bagan MP added.
Lim pointed out that Hadi actions in the past ― such as his willingness to forge a unity government with Umno and his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak even after it was revealed that Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) funds were used to purchase land from 1Malaysia Development Berhad ― showed that it was impossible to maintain a political relationship with the Islamist party.
Lim also stated that the immediate effect of PR’s death as a coalition would be in the Selangor government where DAP will now push Mentri Besar Azmin Ali to “reframe the state government” with a new functioning coalition based on the PR Common Policy and the Selangor PR 2013 General Election manifesto.
PAS on June 6 confirmed its decision to sever ties with DAP while still remaining in PR with PKR, after its motion to do so was approved without debate.
The two parties have been openly hostile over PAS’s ambition to enforce hudud in Kelantan.
The development drove DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang to declare PR dead and awaiting “funeral rites”.
