Groups call for UNITED FRONT in Johor to send UMNO packing!

Two non-governmental organisations in Johor have called for the creation of a united front comprised of individuals, NGOs and political parties to boost efforts to consign UMNO and BN "to the dustbin of history".

"This democratic united front includes the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat, i.e. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) as well as all parties, including Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Human Rights Party (HRP), etc., NGOs and individuals from all walks of life who are opposed to the UMNO-BN rule," said a joint statement issued today by the Johor chapters of Friends of Suaram and Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi).

The groups expressed support for the 20-point “Civil Society General Election Demands”, saying the demands are suited to the issues in Johor, and can be summarised in three points called "the Johor Demands".

These include the elimination of racial discrimination, an end to corruption by government agencies, and the protection from "wanton land acquisition", namely the controversial Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex project.

"Pengerang residents adversely affected by the development project should be given adequate compensation, and should be appropriately resettled. The issue of relocating Chinese cemetery and Malay cemetery must be dealt with in an appropriate manner," the statement added.

Reminding the public that a series of 'goodies' will be dished out by the BN government as general election nears, the groups said Malaysians of all races should not have any illusion "about the deceptive transformation programmes of the BN/UMNO clique indulging in hegemonic rule".

"They must not harbour any illusion about the upper echelon of BN component parties’ intention to safeguard the interests of the various communities.

"The people of various ethnic groups must unite, regardless of class, political party or religion, and be prepared to consign UMNO and BN (including its main component parties) to the dustbin of history, so that the popular aspirations for any democratic reform will become a reality."

-Harakahdaily