TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

Harapan Baru 29/11/2008: Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim Shows His Mettle


Harapan Baru 29/11/2008: Azmin Ali
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Harapan Baru 29/11/2008: Shamsul Iskandar


Majlis Penutup Kongress Nasional Parti Keadilan Rakyat: Anwar Ibrahim




SHAH ALAM: On the last day of debates at Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s 5th Congress here yesterday, de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PKR had no issues with a PAS candidate for the impending Kuala Terengganu by-election. The seat fell vacant following the death of its parliamentarian and deputy minister of education Datuk Razali Ismail on Friday.

The Election Commission is expected to announced the date for a by-election within 60 days of officially receiving notice from parliament. During the previous two elections, PAS candidates were fielded for the 90% Malay majority constituency of 65,000 voters. At his closing speech yesterday at Malawati Stadium, Anwar, who is Opposition Leader, said there were many within PKR who called for a candidate from their party to contest the by-election.

Answering them, Anwar said: “Although the final decision on which party will contest in Kuala Terengganu lies with Pakatan Rakyat, the meaning of consultation is about the willingness to help one another.” “In the last by-election (where he won the Permatang Pauh seat), PAS fully supported us and if PAS is to field a candidate for Kuala Terengganu, we will return the gestures,” said the opposition leader. During his winding-up speech, Anwar reiterated the party is committed to restoring “immunity” to the rulers, as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

On Saturday, president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said at a press conference that the party intends to return legislation veto powers to the monarchy. Article 181 of the Federal Constitution was amended in 1984, whereupon bills passed in Parliament can automatically become laws after 30 days, regardless of whether the King assents to them or not. Meanwhile, vice-president Azmin Ali suggested that states governed by Pakatan Rakyat should start attracting young voters by having bigger budgets for youth programmes. With more such activities, he said, the Pakatan parties can get closer to youths.

Earlier, director of strategy Saifuddin Nasution had said that an estimated two million new voters are expected to take part in the next general election, which must be held by 2013. He also reminded delegates that there were still many Malaysians who were not registered voters. Other suggestions included calls for the formation of a shadow cabinet to monitor the administration of the government. Penang delegate Tan Tee Beng said it was important for the party to have one so that a system of checks and balances can be created to monitor the government.

“Although a shadow cabinet opens our views to scrutiny or even manipulation, it is an important start to convince Malaysians of our seriousness in becoming the next federal government,” said Tan. Recently, civil society groups urged PKR to set up a shadow cabinet to prove that they are ready to govern.