A New Malaysia

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today confidently predicted he would be prime minister within three years, sketching out the first rough timetable for his dramatic political comeback.

“I don’t think we have established a definite clear time-frame when I will take over (as prime minister) but it certainly wouldn’t reach three years … much earlier than that,” the former deputy premier told AFP.

“(But) I am not in a rush,” he added.

Anwar, heir-apparent to long-time former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad before being sacked and jailed a decade ago, has emerged as a serious threat to the ruling coalition after the opposition’s strong showing in parliamentary polls.

He became free to run for office again last week, when a five-year ban stemming from his corruption conviction expired, and claims he has the support of enough defectors to topple the government.

The Barisan Nasional coalition has ruled Malaysia for more than half-a-century since the former colony gained independence from Britain but has been rocked by its unprecedented electoral setback in March.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five states in the polls, putting Mahathir’s successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, under heavy pressure.

Anwar, 60, pledged more effective governance and to wipe out corruption and promote racial equality, addressing some of the public’s major concerns.

“Our reform programme will certainly be more secure. We will push for a market economy, judicial independence and equality for all Malaysians,” he said.

They could ‘jump ship by August’

Anwar also repeated his claim that lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak states had indicated interest in defecting from the ruling coalition to the opposition. He spoke to AFP at Kuala Lumpur airport on his way to Sabah.

“Lawmakers in the two states in Borneo island have approached me about switching sides, but so far none has declared their intentions publicly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar told reporters in Sabah that coalition lawmakers could jump ship by August after being sworn in at the end of April.

“It’s all a matter of timing. Let parliament resume and they are sworn in as MPs (on April 28)…. It could be the month after or by August,” he said.

He added it would be done no later than no later than Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16.

Anwar also said that if the opposition took power, Sabah and Sarawak would be able to keep 20 percent of revenue from the oil they produce, up from the current 5 percent.

“These are the oil-producing states, yet in the case of Sabah it is among the poorest states in the country,” he said.

Anwar will travel to Sarawak tomorrow to rally support for the opposition and to press his own claims for power.

Analysts have backed Anwar’s statement that he has enough support to rule, saying turmoil in the ruling coalition could hasten an exodus of lawmakers and propel him to power.

Prime Minister Abdullah is facing growing demands to quit, but has defiantly claimed a mandate to rule and refused to discuss a succession plan.

Anwar had previously been expected to re-enter parliament quickly through a by-election in one of the seats held by his PKR party, but says he is in no hurry to act and will instead focus on building up the opposition.

Some 20,000 supporters attended Anwar’s rally last week. The opposition leader was released in 2004 after spending six years in jail.

Top leaders of opposition parties - multiracial PKR, pre-dominantly Chinese DAP and Islamic-based PAS - today announced that they have agreed to form a new coalition called Pakatan Rakyat or People’s Alliance.

At a joint press conference this morning, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said the leaders will now take the proposal back to their respective parties for approval.

Anwar, who was flanked by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the People’s Alliance will hold its maiden conference after the proposal has been endorsed by all three parties.

Also present was the new parliamentary opposition leader, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is PKR president and Anwar’s wife.

“Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Anwar.

He said the governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor would now be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments.

“The policies of these governments will be conducted in accordance with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

“We have developed and strengthened the structure of Pakatan Rakyat by creating under the leadership council - consisting of the leaders of the three parties - a joint secretariat consisting of three leaders  from each party.

“This joint secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the Pakatan Rakyat for ratification by the leadership council.”

Anwar said that a convention of all Pakatan Rakyat representatives to Parliament and the state assemblies will be held on April 27.

PAS and PKR are members of the existing Barisan Alternatif which was formed in 1999. DAP was originally a member, but quit the grouping two years later, due to bitter disagreement with PAS over its Islamic state policy.

‘Don’t harp on Islamic state’

However, Hadi sought to play down PAS’ Islamic state policy by arguing that this was not part of the party’s constitution.

Despite repeated questioning, neither Hadi, Lim nor Anwar could confirm if PAS would abandon its ambition to form an Islamic state.    
“The media should be looking at the (PAS) administration of Kelantan and Terengganu which has been accepted by people of all faiths. They have accepted that we practise fairness and equality without leaving any group behind,” said Hadi.

Anwar stressed that the Islamic state issue has not been raised by PAS for several years now and that the coalition would only deliberate on issues explicitly raised by the three parties.

“Why harp on the issue and provoke them to respond? To be fair, should PAS still make (it) an issue, it is okay for us to respond. But as I see it, they have not made this an issue for years,” he said.

“We never raised the issue of an Islamic state (in the meeting). I must reiterate that this issue had not cropped up in PAS manifesto,” Anwar added.

Hadi Awang said his party would not take any action that would create anxiety among Malaysia’s multiracial society.

“PAS is an Islamic party. But we have a common ideology and that is we will fight for justice, we oppose corruption and promote human rights,” he said.

Lim said the emphasis is to focus on “common principles among the three parties”.

He said the alliance was a “logical step forward” following the opposition’s stunning gains.

“The message of the March 8 elections is very clear. The people want to see the three parties work together and bring about change… they want to see change in the area of justice, democracy and good governance,” he said.

“The message of the people is not for an Islamic state or hudud law. I think the message is very clear on that. That is the basis of (the three parties) coming together.”

Asked if the three parties are equal partners within the coalition, Anwar said any problems within the three parties would be ironed out collectively.

He dismissed any suggestion that he is the leader of the group, saying he was merely their spokesperson for today’s press conference.

He also said that it was too early to say if the three parties would contest under a common banner in the future.