TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

The Pakatan Rakyat leadership is prepared if its defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is found guilty of sodomy on January 9, saying contingency plans are in place. “The Pakatan leadership, not only me and (Datuk Seri Dr Wan) Azizah (Wan Ismail) but Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang have discussed scenarios…If I am jailed, involved in accident or shot, we are prepared, discussed various possibilities, scenario one, two, three,” he told reporters here. PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said the scenarios referred to three possibilities — that the high court acquits, convicts him with bail or without bail.

But PR leaders refused to comment on whether Anwar will be replaced if he goes to jail. “Don’t worry about it…we know what to do. Why are you worried?” said a smiling Anwar to a reporter. Anwar will find out on Monday whether he will be convicted for a charge of sodomising a former aide, something which he has vehemently denied, saying it was a ploy to destroy his political career. The PKR defacto leader dismissed claims that his nationwide tours were aimed at garnering support and sympathy ahead of his Sodomy II verdict.

“It won’t be just about January 9, it will be about the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal, rising costs of living,” he said. Anwar also confirmed The Malaysian Insider’s previous reports that the PR convention would be held from January 13 to 14 in Alor Setar, Kedah and that it would focus on the federal opposition’s manifesto. He said the theme for the convention is titled “Bersihkan Malaysia” (Clean Malaysia), and that it would focus on issues affecting the civil service, federalism, and also issues concerning undergraduates and youths.

“Pakatan Rakyat condemns the behaviour of the BN government towards undergraduates fighting for the repeal of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA),” said Anwar, referring to 17 students arrested by police during a peaceful demonstration in Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) on Sunday morning. He also announced that PR’s suggestion to the Election Commission (EC) that an independent television channel be created to air “fair and truthful” reports during the general election. Anwar said the channel should be managed by the EC, and that it should allow equal television coverage between PR and Barisan Nasional leaders. ~themalaysianinsider.com~