Anwar: We will continue with rallies

KUALA LUMPUR: Anwar Ibrahim vowed today that Pakatan Rakyat will continue to protest alleged electoral fraud and call for the resignation of the Election Commission officers, even as the turnout for today’s Black 505 rally was lower than expected. Speaking to a crowd of about 30,000 rally-goers at Padang Merbok, the opposition leader blamed the poor attendance on the haze that has smothered the nation the past few days. “I received many requests from our friends to postpone this rally because of the haze. In Brickfields, Nurul Izzah (Lembah Pantai MP) requested that mothers take their children home. “Many have made the decision to not join us because of the weather. To those who are here, who understand the meaning of freedom, I salute you,” said Anwar, amid cheers and applause from the crowd . The PKR de facto leader was adamant today that the opposition would continue protesting, amid criticism from Barisan Nasional that support for the Black 505 rallies among the rakyat was waning. “We have won the elections, we have a clear mandate. If there was no massive rigging and fraud everyone knows that we would have received 60% of the popular vote from Malaysians,” said Anwar “This is why we will continue our protest, outside and inside the parliament, within the country and on the international arena,” he said. Anwar also mocked those who urged him to accept the 13th general election results and allow the government to do its work. “What work? Cheating the rakyat, increasing petrol prices, enriching their cronies?” asked Anwar. “Is there change? Is there good governance? Is there an attempt to clean the government of corruption and abuse of power? No. So the rakyat must rise up.” he said. He said if the government was serious about changing itself for the better, it would not be defending Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof and his deputy, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. “Why defend them? Aziz admitted that he failed in handling the indelible ink. He is more stupid than a primary school student. “Wan Ahmad is a liar, he is arrogant, he insults the rakyat. He should be hauled to court,” he said. But Anwar urged supporters today to protest only through peaceful means. “Regardless of what action we take, we must ensure we do it peacefully, without provocation and fighting, so that we bring change through peaceful means,” he said. He also thanked the authorities for allowing them to gather in the field peacefully.