16.6.08

And so Anwar Ibrahim was in Penang to talk about...

...more crossovers from BN, MCA this time, to Pakatan Rakyat.

I don't know, I didn't go for the rally which reportedly saw some 30,000 people thronging the city stadium in Penang. Also, Anwar was around to open a service centre here in Bayan Baru.

So, I read up on what he has to say at the online media, Malaysiakini, for some accurate news about it. We can never trust the MSM with news on rallies and anything by the Opposition!

So, it seems that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR de facto leader, is claiming that more BN fellas plan to do the froggie impression.

According to Malaysiakini:

“I can safely say that several MCA MPs will join us soon,” he told journalists yesterday, after opening a service centre in Bayan Baru, Penang.

Anwar has been keeping the public on tenterhooks since the general election on March 8, with repeated claims of crossovers by Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians, especially those in Sabah.

He said that discreet meetings have been held in Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore, to avoid scrutiny, and that “even a cabinet minister met me”
Alright, my curiosity is definitely piqued. I wonder who is this cabinet minister?

And yes, we have been hearing Anwar go on and on about those froggies but yet to see or hear any of them hopping over. Not yet, anyway.

But then, we never know. Not that I am accusing Anwar of lying (but then, don't all politicians lie?) about this impending crossovers, I am wondering if it will happen at all.

Three months have passed since the general election. And rumours and talks of crossovers come and go but no concrete moves to substantiate it. Still, Anwar was adamant and seemed uber confident that Pakatan Rakyat will be able to wrest the government from BN.

“It’s about time that we take over. It’s only a matter of time for us to take over. We are so close to Putrajaya,” he said to roars from some 30,000 people.

“It’s very soon. I will not say how (soon). But it will happen soon.”

He stressed that defecting MPs would have to accept the Pakatan tenets of good governance.
Yeah, yeah. I have read all this before. In fact, I keep seeing this ever other week in Malaysiakini by Anwar or one of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

My main questions,

Is Anwar bluffing to scare the BN and make them jittery?

Or does he really have the numbers to really grab Putrajaya (and the whole country)?

So, who will be Prime Minister then? Do we really want a change in government? No, let me rephrase that, do we want Pakatan Rakyat to run the country?

Seriously, I have my doubts about them. Sure, they could possibly be better than BN but the recent call by PAS youth for hardline Islamic laws to be imposed on the five states under the Pakatan Rakyat has given me the jitters.

I wouldn't want hardline Islamic laws, especially if it affects my rights and freedom (of sorts), for the whole country.

Sigh...we do live in interesting times don't we?

1 comment:

Starmandala said...

Foong, I read your anxieties and doubts. Perfectly understandable - indeed, the majority of Malaysians at this juncture must be feeling the same way and you've just articulated their thoughts. However, allow me to poke my big nose in your blog and leave you with this terse comment: it's imperative that Pakatan Rakyat take over the federal government in the next few weeks - or Malaysia is literally doomed! Can you IMAGINE? A minister with the shadiest track record in terms of gigantic kickbacks and who is under a dark cloud of suspicion as to his involvement with at least two sex-related murders is being anointed the next prime minister by BN - would you really prefer to have such a party rule another 5 years? Good heavens, those criminals are already shifting billions of stolen funds out of of Malaysia even as I type this. Our only hope right now is SWIFT AND SUDDEN CHANGE - before BN invokes the ISA and throws all the Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Kamunting (why do you think they love the ISA so much? It was Dr M's favorite weapon whenever his dictatorial leadership was threatened). Once the PR is in power, they must unhesitatingly abolish all repressive laws and reform the police, judiciary, and civil service while unmuzzling the mass media. After that, their work is done and it really doesn't matter who forms the government - so long as they are accountable and can be removed from office if found guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty and greed. Decentralization of power is the only way to democratization - and in a true democracy, you and I as citizens are always more important than any so-called VVIP who's being paid to serve the Rakyat.