Anwar accused of threatening chaos

BN figures say his speech at Stadium Merdeka showed he won’t accept defeat in the polls.

PETALING JAYA: Several Barisan Nasional leaders have condemned Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for making what they said was a threat to topple the government by undemocratic means if Pakatan Rakyat were to lose in the coming election.

They were referring to Anwar’s speech during Saturday’s opposition rally at Stadium Merdeka, in which he warned the Election Commission (EC) against helping the ruling regime to cheat in the coming general election.

Anwar pointed to a banner displayed during the rally and said: “Read that warning: Cheat in the general election, and the people will rise and cast you out.”

Former Selangor menteri besar Mohamed Khir Toyo urged the police to question him.

Khir said the alleged threat was “unbecoming of a leader”.

“I think the police should take action, at least to ask why he had made that sort of statement,” he added.

“Our country is democratic and those who get the people’s mandate get to govern the country. But they are making it public that if you don’t vote for Pakatan, they will cause trouble.”

‘His usual tactic’

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong agreed that Anwar made a threat, but describing it as “his usual tactic to boost confidence”.

He called on Anwar to be ready to accept whatever the electorate decides.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong said he expected opposition figures to accuse BN of cheating if the election results were not in their favour.

“If elections were rigged as claimed by Anwar, we would have won back the state we want to win,” he said, referring to Kelantan. “It won’t be under PAS for so long.

“As long as it is not satisfactory for them, they will definitely say the election is rigged, not fair, and accuse BN of other things.

“They even blame BN for their unfulfilled promises and the lies in their manifesto. These are all empty promises.”

Asked what form of trouble he expected if the opposition were to carry out the threat, Khir said: “They will make chaos like the Arab Spring. They are saying if you don’t vote for Pakatan, we will topple the country by any means.”

Wee said he was not sure what Anwar meant, but suspected that he was hinting at taking over the government by force – “maybe by external force or international influence”.

Chua said Anwar’s statement showed that Pakatan leaders had decided that “they must win the next round”.