'Anwar can wait five more years, but not the rakyat'

INTERVIEW It is the people of Malaysia who are not "patient" to wait another five years for a regime change, while the opposition, including its leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim, can wait, says PKR vice-president Tian Chua.

"Anwar can wait. A lot of other people can wait, but I don't think the Malaysian people are patient enough to wait another five years," Chua said in an interview with Malaysiakini on Tuesday.

"I don't think our economy can withstand another five years of wastage. The urgency for change comes from the demands of the people," he said when asked whether the 13th general election would be former deputy prime minister Anwar's last opportunity to be prime minister.

"The struggle is not about Anwar becoming PM. But GE13 was the last chance for Malaysia in the democratic reform trail," he said.

"Basic democratic reforms, such as a freer media, leadership rotation, independent and free judiciary, anti-corruption body and Election Commission, are needed...

"Our neighbouring countries, which used to be behind us, are now ahead of us in these areas. But Malaysia has yet to take the first step in basic reform," added the MP for Batu.

Asked whether the movement for democratic reforms could yield the desired results in light of the election having been recently concluded, Chua drew parallels to insurgencies in other countries, such as in Syria.

"Many countries are in a more hopeless situation than us. It is impossible for change to happen there, but still the people continue to be resilient. Politics is not our concern, people are our concern," he said.

"With gaps in the BN getting wider, I believe the coalition will be weaker in five years from now, and Pakatan will be stronger. But in between, now and then, there must be a genuine movement," he added.

'No one is indispensable'

Chua also said that while Pakatan backed Anwar as its candidate for prime minister, no one is indispensable to the opposition coalition.

"If you get a good system, it does not matter who leads. I'm confident Pakatan will be strong even if Anwar is not there...," he said.

"The desire for change is not Anwar's personal mission, but it is the wish of the majority of the rakyat."

Chua also dismissed the idea of an unity government between BN and the opposition as "unfounded".

"We have no such concept (of a unity government). I don't think BN or Pakatan will agree to the matter.

"Even if they do, the PM must come from Pakatan because we won more votes. And BN will never agree to that," he said when asked if there was any Pakatan leader mulling the idea of forming an unity government with BN. - Malaysiakini