Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Anwar says he still has support to seize power
AFP - Wednesday, October 8Anwar said last month more than 31 lawmakers from the Barisan Nasional coalition were willing to switch sides and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to agree to negotiations on a handover of power.
Abdullah has refused and Anwar has since said pulling off the first change of government in Malaysia's half-century history was a difficult task that could take some time.
"I am pleased by the general enthusiasm expressed by Malaysians who want to see change and rid this country of racism and corruption," Anwar said Tuesday.
Despite the delay in his plans, the 31 lawmakers "have given me their support and they have not reneged on their support," he said.
Anwar said leaders of the three parties in the opposition alliance were meeting Tuesday to explore their options.
An official from Anwar's Keadilan party said the strategies included seeking an audience with Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to claim a mandate to rule.
Parliament resumes next Monday and the defecting lawmakers could physically cross the floor to show a change in allegiance.
And although the premier can under the constitution block any attempt to mount a vote of no confidence, opposition lawmakers can propose an ordinary motion criticising Abdullah, the official said.
Abdullah, who led the coalition to its worst ever performance in elections this year, is expected to announce Wednesday whether he will stand aside next March in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.
"I don't believe that Najib will be able to garner support or credibility, or manage the economy and rid the country of corruption," Anwar said.
"We are talking about a corrupt and rotten system, we are talking about a mismanaged system under Abdullah and I believe it is going to be worse under Najib."
Anwar is battling a sodomy charge which he says is politically motivated.
He has been accused of sodomising a 23-year-old former aide -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.
The opposition leader had a small victory in court Tuesday when a judge fended off a government attempt to move the case to the High Court.
Anwar, who has said he fears the government could fix the trial if it is heard in the higher court, questioned the motivation of Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, whom he is suing in connection with his earlier conviction.
"I am concerned only about the issue of fair trial. I am finding it difficult to understand why the attorney-general is so desperate, fighting tooth and nail to get the case out of this court," he said.
The Sessions Court will continue until Wednesday to hear arguments from both sides over the transfer of the case.
Monday, October 6, 2008
GIMME THREE MONTHS MORE
Posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at October 6, 2008
1. The UMNO General Assembly which will this time elect the members of the Supreme Council has now been postponed to March 2009, three months later.
2. This, I am told, is at the insistence of Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He is said to need this time in order to put the country right. This includes eradicating poverty, judicial and legal reforms, social reforms and something about Islam Hadhari.
3. He had had five years to do all these but everyone knows nothing has been accomplished by him. Now he says he will do all these in three months. Can we believe he can? Can we believe these are the real reasons why he will not go until March 2009, only three months after the originally scheduled General Assembly?
4. I may be biased but I do not think these are the reasons he wants to stay on as Prime Minister three months longer.
5. It is said that on 9th October, the day before the divisions are to hold their meetings, he will announce that he will not stand for election as President of UMNO. The question is, will he announce it? I have this suspicion that he will not. If he does not it would not be surprising. He is not a man of his words.
6. There really is no reason for this extension unless it is because of a possibility to influence the divisions into countering the Supreme Council and its demand that Abdullah steps down. In which case the extension may be further extended. Already SMS messages are denouncing Najib.
7. The leaders of UMNO must realise they need a long and painful campaign to win back the estranged UMNO members and supporters. They will have at most four years to do this. They will need the time. Every month of delay will mean less time for rehabilitation.
8. Neither UMNO, MCA, Gerakan nor MIC can aspire to become the Government of Malaysia on their own. Abdullah has emasculated all of them. To rehabilitate UMNO alone is not enough. The other parties in Barisan Nasional must also be rehabilitated, if the Barisan Nasional is again to become a force in Malaysian politics.
9. All the parties need time to do this. It does not help to have Abdullah delaying the process of rehabilitation even if it is only for three months.
10. The spurious reasons for the delay must be rejected. UMNO should hold its meeting as scheduled i.e. in December. That over, whoever gets to lead UMNO and the Barisan Nasional should immediately go down on the ground to explain things to the people. Hopefully the renegades from all the component parties will come back. If they return it is necessary to consolidate each party and the Barisan Nasional itself. These are herculean tasks especially as the country will have to also face turbulent times in the domestic and international economy.
11. I am still not an UMNO member but I will nevertheless pray for Abdullah to step down soonest and for a new leader to be elected to rehabilitate UMNO and the BN.