Anwar Ibrahim’s Permatang Pauh Declaration of 24 years ago
Looking back at what Anwar Ibrahim promised us 24 years ago on 12th September 1998, we can see that it was all bullshit and hogwash. Nothing of what Anwar said was truthful. Anyway, read below what Anwar promised 24 years back in September 1998.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Almost 24 years ago on 12th September 1998, Anwar Ibrahim announced the Permatang Pauh Declaration (READ BELOW). That made people like me, who at that time thought Anwar was nothing but a fraud, do a U-turn and support the Reformasi movement.
That was 24 years ago when I was just 47 years old and many of you were not born yet or were still in primary school.
I was a businessman then, and because of my involvement with the Reformasi movement, my business suffered, and my government contracts got terminated prematurely. Yes, Umno and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took no prisoners and showed no mercy to critics and dissidents.
I was detained without trial twice, my house got raided by the police many times, and I was arrested and charged for so-called crimes four times.
Looking back at what Anwar Ibrahim promised us 24 years ago on 12th September 1998, we can see that it was all bullshit and hogwash. Nothing of what Anwar said was truthful. Anyway, read below what Anwar promised 24 years back in September 1998.
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THE PERMATANG PAUH DECLARATION
Being conscious of the Quranic injunction, which urges striving towards betterment;
And inspired by the Asian traditions, which all encourage renewal for the individual and for society;
And acknowledging that Malaysia is in the grip of a terrible crisis and requires recourse to its inner strengths in order to rise again,
We, the citizens of Malaysia of all cultural and religious backgrounds, are determined to launch a movement for comprehensive reform:
* A reform movement shining with a light radiating from aspiring and pure hearts; from the awareness that man is truly noble and free, with rights and responsibilities, that it is a sacrilege to abuse and denigrate any man or woman, to bind and restrict any man or woman without following the due process of just laws;
* A reform movement to establish justice for all, the weak and strong, the rich and poor, to preserve the institutions and processes of law from the defilement of graft and abuse of power;
* A reform movement to sanctify the power of the people through democratic means, for democracy is an imperative: man’s instinct for justice makes democracy a possibility, but the existence of tendencies to oppress makes it a necessity.
* A reform movement that champions economic justice, one that advocates fairness in economic growth and distribution so that the rich do not get richer at the expense of the poor, for the world has enough for everyone, but too little to satisfy everyone’s greed;
* A reform movement to eradicate graft and abuse of power, to strip the opulent and greedy clique of their power to manipulate the market;
* A reform movement to reinforce a dynamic cultural identity, where faith in our noble cultural traditions is intact, but there is openness to all that is good in all traditions;
* A reform movement to launch the Malaysian nation into the information age and the borderless world, encouraging wisdom, self-assurance and openness towards a global friendship based on the principles of truth and justice.
We launch this reform movement as a peaceful movement, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and in observance of the principles of the rule of law.
The hour has come. Unite for Reformasi.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Permatang Pauh
12 September 1998
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Deklarasi Permatang Pauh
Menyedari gesaan al-Quran yang bermaksud “tidaklah kami mahu melainkan untuk melakukan islah sekuat daya kami”;
Dan berilhamkan tradisi budaya-budaya Asia yang keseluruhannya menganjurkan pembaharuan diri dan masyarakat;
Dan menginsafi bahawa Malaysia kini dicengkam kemelut yang dahsyat dan memerlukan kekuatan dalaman untuk bangun semula;
Maka kami rakyat Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa dan agama bertekat untuk melancarkan gerakan reformasi yang menyeluruh:
* Gerakan reformasi yang terpancar perjuangan hati nurani, dari kesedaran bahawa sesungguhnya diri manusia itu mulia dan merdeka, mempunyai hak dan tanggungjawab, diri manusia haram dizalimi dan diaibkan, haram di belenggu dan disekat tanpa mengikut proses dan undang-undang yang adil;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk menegakkan keadilan untuk semua, yang kuat dan yang lemah, yang kaya dan yang miskin; membersihkan institusi dan proses undang-undang dari dicemari oleh penyalahgunaan kuasa dan rasuah;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk mendaulatkan kuasa rakyat melalui proses demokrasi. Democrasi itu satu kemestian, kerana semangat keadilan yang ada dalam diri manusia membolehkan demokrasi dilaksana, tetapi kecenderungan manusia untuk berlaku zalim menjadikan demokrasi satu kewajipan;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk memperjuangkan keadilan ekonomi, menjana pertumbuhan dan pengagihan yang saksama, jangan yang kaya bertambah kaya yang miskin papa kedana. Dunia ini mencukupi untuk keperluan semua, tetapi tidak mencukupi untuk memenuhi kerakusan individu;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk membanteras rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa, mengikis manipulasi pasaran oleh segelintir golongan rakus dan mahakaya;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk memperkukuhkan jayadiri budaya yang dinamis, setia kepada warisan bangsa yang murni dan terbuka kepada segala yang baik dari semua budaya;
* Gerakan reformasi untuk membawa bangsa Malaysia ke zaman maklumat dan dunia tanpa sempadan, menjana kebijaksanaan, keyakinan dan keterbukaan untuk menjalin persahabatan sejagat berdasarkan prinsip kebenaran dan keadilan.
Kami akan menggerakkan reformasi ini dengan aman, mengikut semangat perlembagaan dan bernafaskan prinsip pemerintahan undang-undang.
Masanya telah tiba. Bersatulah untuk reformasi.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Permatang Pauh
12 September 1998
