Let's get machinery in order first, then only 'Putrajaya talk'

TEMERLOH - PAS vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has urged Pakatan Rakyat to strengthen their party machinery first before discussing ways to capture Putrajaya in the next general election.

Saying their current preparation had not reached the optimum level, Tuan Ibrahim warned that time was running out for PR parties to be prepared, adding that several signs were pointing to an earlier general election.

“The media are now trying to drive a wedge in PR by bringing up issues that need not be discussed such as who will lead the country's leadership (if PR wins), PR’s cabinet line-up and also about the party who will be helming the country.

"These questions are to create illfeelings among the component parties of PR. The truth is, we do not know how far we can win the general election that will then determine what will happen next," he said, and likened the current situation to a quarrel among shepherds over their profits when "not even a goat was bred".

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the PAS state chief in Pahang, warned that any shortcomings and weaknesses in parties' election machineries would only open them to attacks from BN, ultimately killings PR's Putrajaya ambition.

He said the electorate would only choose a party based on its strength and integrity, and as such called on greater dissemination of information with regards to the achievements of PR-led states, particularly to the rural people.

"To what extent those achievements are known and felt by the people?

"There is an urgent need for a mechanism to be established to target key voters in rural areas and to penetrate Felda," he said, and noted that the recent conference of PR Menteri Besar and Chief Minister had agreed to form a media-savvy body to fend off BN’s relentless attacks.