Early state elections would mean the end of Azmin

Mukhriz wants to re-launch Barisan Rakyat that was first launched in February 2008. DAP wants to dissolve the Selangor State Assembly and call for early state elections. Azmin does not agree to this because he knows that would mean the end of him, as a new Menteri Besar would be appointed after the state elections.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The Barisan Rakyat poster of 2008

Mukhriz Mahathir wants to re-launch Barisan Rakyat (see FMT news item below), which was launched in February 2008 to face the March 2008 general election (see Ahirudin Attan’s blog posting below).

When we announced the launch of Barisan Rakyat, Malaysiakini asked DAP’s Lim Kit Siang about the matter and he denied any knowledge of the issue — whereas Ronnie Liu, as representative of DAP, had attended the launch of Barisan Rakyat at the Blog House.

The launch of Barisan Rakyat in February 2008

A few weeks later, towards the end of February 2008, they announced the launch of Pakatan Rakyat, comprising of only three parties — PAS, PKR and DAP — instead of six parties as originally planned. It was clear that DAP decided what should happen and PAS and PKR just followed.

That is the same when DAP decided to close down Pakatan Rakyat and form Pakatan Harapan so that PAS could be replaced with PAN, DAP’s new Islamic party.

Mukhriz had better talk to Lim Kit Siang before opening his mouth because what happens will be what Lim Kit Siang and DAP wishes to happen. If not it is not going to happen.

That was our experience in 2008 and again in 2013. In fact, one of the main issues they had with PAS was that Abdul Hadi Awang did not support DAP’s choice of Menteri Besar, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and instead supported Azmin Ali.

And now DAP wants to dissolve the Selangor State Assembly and call for early state elections so that Azmin can be replaced with DAP’s choice of candidate for Menteri Besar. And that is why Azmin is opposed to early state elections, because he knows he is going to be ousted if they hold early state elections.

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(FMT) – PPBM veep Mukhriz Mahathir moots new coalition, competing under one name, one logo to avoid three-cornered fights that only benefit BN.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) wants all Opposition parties to contest the next General Election (GE14) as a coalition, under one banner and one logo.

PPBM Vice-President Mukhriz Mahathir said this will allow a straight fight against Barisan Nasional (BN), which would avoid a split in votes among opposition supporters.

The new coalition’s name, he suggested, can be Barisan Rakyat (BR) and this will be discussed soon. (READ MORE HERE)

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Barisan Rakyat’s ‘company car’ back in 2008

(Ahirudin Attan) – A group of Malaysians led by some of the country’s top bloggers will unveil their candidates for the general election on Saturday (8th March 2008).

The group, who pledge allegiance to neither the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) nor the opposition, say their candidates will form what will be known as Barisan Rakyat (BR), or the People’s Front.

Haris Ibrahim

“Barisan Rakyat is a concept, not a party or a group of parties like the BN,” human rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim, who is one of the sponsors of the move, told my paper.

He said Barisan Rakyat will use the Internet, especially the blogosphere, to rally support for the candidates it has chosen.

Blogger Jeff Ooi, 52, who joined the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) late last year and will be contesting Parliament and State seats in Penang, tops the Barisan Rakyat’s list.

Badrul Hisham Shaharin a.k.a. Chegubard

Mr Badrul Hisham Shaharin, 30, an ex-teacher the opposition has tasked with taking on Mr Khairy Jamaluddin wherever the Prime Minister’s son-in-law decides to stand, is also on the list.

Mr Badrul, or popularly known as Chegubard, is the youngest executive council member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Wee Choo Keong

Another BR candidate is lawyer Wee Choo Keong, a breakaway DAP MP who has formed Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP).

Organisers are approaching Mr Husam Musa, a stalwart of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and Mr Zaid Ibrahim, a maverick lawyer of Umno who is expected to be dropped by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from BN’s line-up for Kelantan, to join the front.

The pre-requisite: “You must endorse the People’s Declaration,” said Mr Haris.

Drafted by a committee led by Raja Petra Kamarudin, the declaration contains the various aspirations of the civil society movement in Malaysia. It calls for, among other things, the eventual abolition of race-based parties and race-based schools, and the creation of a true “Bangsa Malaysia”.

Copies of the declaration were sent to all the political parties, including those under BN.

Mr Haris said the DAP, PAS, PKR, MDP, PSM and even Pasok, a small component party of the BN, have endorsed the People’s Declaration.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Mr Raja Petra Kamarudin, editor of the Malaysia Today news portal and another Barisan Rakyat organiser, said the previous opposition coalition, Barisan Alternatif, had not proved itself to be a viable alternative to the ruling coalition in the last two general elections.

Barisan Rakyat will put pressure on the opposition to avoid multi-horse contests in the March 8 polls, he said.

At the Barisan Rakyat media conference this Saturday, which will be held at the Blog House in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, the organisers will launch a “cyber-hat” to be passed around the Net and the blogosphere to help the candidates raise funds for their campaigns.

The event will also mark the official launch of the People’s Declaration.

Mr Haris said his aim is to help all candidates endorsed by Barisan Rakyat win the seats they are contesting.

However, he declined to discuss proposals that Barisan Rakyat be positioned to replace the ad-hoc and often-fragile Barisan Alternatif.

“Let’s see,” he said.