Anwar: Give us a chance

The opposition leader points out that the government cannot ignore the voices of the people.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, held at Stadium Merdeka today, is to champion various issues including wanting the government to ensure free and fair elections, Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said here.

He said the rally was held to champion various issues and to ensure the voices of Malaysians were heard.

“Today’s peaceful gathering in Kuala Lumpur, and around other venues in the country and abroad, is to show that many of us are standing together, with one voice, a voice of change – whether to reform elections, halt Lynas or defend Felda families.

“We want free and fair elections. You have a vote and I have a vote. No one should steal our votes. We shall work to defend our votes and will not allow anyone to mock our votes. KL112 says, reform elections now,” he said in a statement here before the start of the rally.

“Today, in Kuala Lumpur’s peaceful assembly and in peaceful assemblies elsewhere, the message is clear: the government cannot ignore the voices of the people. You who have showed up are key to the struggle,” he added.

Touching on Malaysians living abroad, he said they should also be given the right to vote in the general election.

“…. to express as free individuals your opinion on what is happening back home in Malaysia so that many more know about our challenges, to support us back home who are working with limited resources and to channel confidence to your family members still in Malaysia that change is possible and change is near.

“Keep tweeting and posting all day, keep talking, keep sharing; every voice matters, every effort adds on to building a flood of hope, and by the day dwarfing the dam of intolerance and aloofness built by those who rule today. One day, the dam will break and sunlight will shine again in our lives,” he added.

Give us a chance

In his speech at the rally, Anwar urged the rakyat to give Pakatan a chance to govern the nation.

“Give us a chance. We will do a better job,” he said to the huge roar from the crowd.

He promised a litany of reforms should Pakatan form the next government.

He also said that if that happens after the next general election, he would invite the rakyat once again to Stadium Merdeka to celebrate their victory.

He ended his speech with chants of ‘Merdeka’ seven times.

BN play the race game

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Barisan Nasional under the thumb of Umno has always been pitting one race against another to maintain power.

“They want to cover up their corruption scandals, so they pit one race against another.

“For good leaders look at Pakatan Rakyat. If you want a Chinese leader we have Lim Kit Siang [DAP adviser], Indian leader we have Karpal Singh [DAP chairman], Malay leader we have Abdul Hadi Awang [PAS president]and Nik Aziz Nik Mat [PAS spiritual adviser], a woman leader we have Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and leader for all Malaysians we have Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

Hadi in his speech said the ruling Barisan Nasional had disregarded the country’s constitution on various occasions.

“But in the four Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states we have maintained a clean and transparent government. Look at how we shared power in Perak. Even when PAS had less number of seats compared to PKR and DAP, the two coalition partners allowed us to take the menteri besar  post… this is our level of cooperation,” he added.