Azmin rallies Pakatan, says unity key to winning Putrajaya next

By Melissa Chi

May 15, 2011

Azmin says unity is key to PKR's victory in the next general elections. - Picture by Jack Ooi

SELAYANG, May 15 — PKR No 2 Azmin Ali expressed confidence Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can form the federal government in the next general elections if the opposition pact can keep united despite pressure from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

He said victory would not depend on when the elections will be held despite a call by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed to delay the next general elections until BN is sufficiently able to regain its two-thirds parliamentary majority.

“I want to remind Dr Mahathir that whether the elections is called this year or the next, Umno will fall in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general elections but our path is not an easy one. We have to unite and believe in Allah, I’m sure with this sincerity, not only can we defend Selangor, but Putrajaya will be owned by Malaysians,” Azmin (picture) said confidently when addressing the “Rakyat Tolak Fitnah” (Anti-slander campaign) gathering at the Selayang Stadium here.

Dr Mahathir had said that Datuk Seri Najib Razak should only call for general elections next year as there is currently too much racial division in the country.

BN suffered historic losses in the 2008 elections, losing its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states in a result that was widely blamed on splits within the dominant Malay demographic and dissatisfaction among Chinese and Indian voters.

Dr Mahathir said he was concerned that Malaysians were now even more divided than ever, and that this had never happened when he was prime minister.

The PKR deputy president also said leaders from the Umno are willing to resort to unethical ways to stay in power.

“Recently, the prime minister himself announced that Umno must take back the Selangor state at all costs.

“What does that include? Bribery, murder, steal... if this came from Umno’s division leaders, I understand but when the prime minister said ‘at all costs, we must take back Selangor’ ... that shows that he does not respect the people’s voice that had ousted BN in the last general elections,” he said.

He said the prime minister, and the entire Umno leadership, have “gone crazy until they want to propagate chaos” to ensure their grip on the political power.

“All Malaysians should stand up against the culture of slander in politics. They hurl all kinds of accusations until they are willing to race, not for the sake of the country, but racing to see who is daring enough to swear,” Azmin said, referring to the dare to swear in the sex tape scandal which purportedly involved Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.