TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

The rakyat are waiting to pocket the cash handouts that the government will be dishing out next year after polls are called but are just as eager to oust the ruling coalition, says Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. “Even though people will be receiving the (RM500) BR1M (Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia), but I am confident that they are biding their time to cast out the BN,” he declared at the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (People’s Uprising Assembly) in Kota Baru last night. This uprising, Anwar said, was similarly reflected in rallies across the nation including Sabah and Sarawak previously described as the BN’s fixed deposit states.

“They (BN) are aware of this which is why they are becoming violent to the extent that we, including our friends in PAS, have become accustomed (to being targeted),” he said. The night’s rally itself, Anwar said, was testimony to his declaration as some 50,000 people, armed with, yellow, orange, green and red flags thronged the Sultan Muhamed VI Stadium. The colours represent several prominent protests groups of recent years, namely the Bersih, Felda rights, anti-Lynas and Kelantan royalty movements. Beyond symbolism, the gathering tonight was part of a series of Pakatan-driven rallies to capitalise on the existence of the diverse dissenting groups united against the government ahead of the looming polls to culminate in the mother of all rallies in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 12.

Graft probe challenge to BN

“Once we capture Putrajaya, the demands of yellow, orange, green, red, we will fulfill them all,” declared PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu as the sea of people waved the flags of four colours. Taking the podium later, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang broomed away Umno’s stand that corruption happens across the board in countering its self-confessed corruption perception problem, insisting that it wasn’t so in Pakatan-led states. “If there are states led by Pakatan that indulge in corruption, then relinquish power, we do not want a corrupt state. If what Umno claim is true, then investigate,” he said.

However, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said Umno’s issue with corruption was not merely perception but fact. Noting PAS’ commitment to join hands with Pakatan in capturing Putrajaya at its muktamar earlier in the day, Lim referred to several of the ruling coalition’s attack lines suggesting that the ‘unholy union’ with the DAP would threaten the Malay community. “They (BN) say if Pakatan wins power, Malays will lose power… the position of the monarchs would be threatened and Islam sidelined… Malays would be beggars in their own land… is this true?” he asked repeatedly to a loud “No!” from from the crowd each time .

Lim (left) said this was the first time since independence where a change of government was in sight with victory hingeing on the unity within Pakatan. “Our success will depend on the unity and commitment of all parties within Pakatan by moving in unison with the same objectives, let’s show we are different from the BN,” he said. ~malaysiakini.com~