‘Blackmail, sabotage threats will not work’

The Opposition leader said threats like sabotage and blackmail will not work when it comes to allocating seats for the general electiosn.

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat is a tight knit coalition and threats like sabotage,blackmail or boycott will not work.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said of late some disgruntled leaders have resorted to threats because they might not be happy with the coalition’s electoral seat formula.

Speaking at the state Pakatan convention here today, Anwar labelled those who issued such threats as sour grapes with low mentality.

He acknowledged that disgruntlement does occur amongst Pakatan due to jostling over certain seats, including Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency in Johor.

He said  members can demand or even pressure for certain seats if  they felt their party had  better chance to win.

He said he had also been hearing claims by disgruntled Pakatan members that the seat can’t be won without the support of one party or other.

He said these members even threatened to stop working if their party was denied a particular seat.

“Don’t blackmail and issue treats of sabotage or boycott.That’s not the way it works. We won’t entertain such threats,” PKR supremo Anwar told Pakatan members at Komtar Dome.

Also present were DAP secretary- general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state chairmen Chow Kon Yeow of DAP and Mansor Othman of PKR.

Anwar insisted Pakatan top leadership relationship had remained as cordial and strongly-knitted as ever like a big family.

The family atmosphere among Pakatan leaders were so strong that he said his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would have a sisterly sympathy for Lim when he comes under personal attacks.

He said he had also forged close working ties with PAS leaders Abdul Hadi Awang and Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and other DAP leaders like Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh.

“To us, the leaders, we have no problems. We will always discuss and resolve any issue amicably,” clarified the Opposition Leader, asking the members to emulate the leadership style.

He called all Pakatan members and supporters to set aside all their differences and work together once the seat allocations had been finalised.

Anwar also hit back at critics for claiming that the coalition manifesto had failed to address pressing ethnic Indian community issues.
He is also upset with stinging criticisms by certain quarters on Pakatan Indian leaders for allegedly sleeping on their job.

He explained that Pakatan manifesto was designed to do away with the traditional way of mentioning ethnicity that was used back in 1970s but which was not applicable in 2013.

He reiterated that the Pakatan manifesto was the people’s manifesto that would be implemented to benefit all, not a particular race or religion.

“We need not be defensive about it,” said Anwar, the Permatang Pauh MP.

He said it was not practical to associate a particular issue with an ethnic group when other communities also faced similar problems, citing that the stateless issue had also affected ethnic Chinese not just Indians.

As a true Malay and Muslim, he said he would uphold his religious principles to fulfill all promises and would not deprive natural justice and equality to other communities

“When we mention all, it’s all. We don’t need to mention a particular race.

“Of course the Malays would benefit more because they are the majority population.

“But those eligible from other communities will also receive the same benefits,” said Anwar.