Ahead of Pakatan leadership meet, sodomy verdict, Anwar says ties must be strengthened

(From left) DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu at a ceramah in Pematang Pauh last night. Pakatan Rakyat leaders are scheduled to meet this afternoon after more than four months to resolve issues such as the public spat between DAP and PAS on hudud and local council elections. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 8, 2015.

As Pakatan Rakyat leaders prepare to meet at their leadership council meeting this afternoon, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it was important that ties among the partners in the opposition coalition be strengthened and not waver in their common struggle.

"I agree with (Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed) Azmin Ali and (PAS deputy president) Mat Sabu that we must not be derailed from our common policies,” he said at a ceramah in Permatang Pauh last night.

Ties among the PR parties have marked by open bickering between DAP and PAS and it is still uncertain whether PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will attend the meeting after he said no one could force him to be present.

"I hope the meeting will proceed smoothly," Anwar said of the meeting he is expected to chair.

He told a crowd of more than 1,000 people at the “Jelajah Rakyat Hakim Negara” mega ceramah in Ampang Jajar Permatang Pauh last night that the relationship among PKR, DAP and PAS was important and must remain strong.

With or without his presence, the ties among them must be strengthened, he said.

"If I end up in prison again, I urge you all to carry the torch and continue with our struggles," he added, ahead of the Federal Court's verdict on Tuesday on his appeal against his sodomy conviction.

The meeting this afternoon is expected to see Anwar, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Hadi thrash out contentious issues plaguing the coalition.

It has been months since the top leaders of the three parties met at the PR leadership council, where all important matters are discussed and finalised.

It was reported that no meeting had been called for more than six months and Hadi had been skipping the meeting for more than a year, causing DAP to criticise him and insist that he must attend the meetings.

Of late, Hadi and Lim have been bickering in the media over hudud and local government elections, straining the relationship between the parties that was already fragile over last year’s Selangor menteri besar issue.

Hadi had refused to endorse the coalition's candidate, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for the MB’s post.

Mat Sabu, whose real name is Mohamad Sabu, did not confirm last night whether Hadi would attend the PR leadership council meeting, but indicated that it was likely because PAS was hosting the council meeting at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

"PAS is also having a meeting tomorrow at our headquarters and usually Hadi attends. He should be there," he said after the ceramah.

Earlier, Mat Sabu, who is also Penang PAS commissioner, said PR would continue to be united.

He said regardless of what would happen to Anwar, the PR struggle would continue.

"There is no other way for Umno to be safe unless PR falls. Do we want to prolong Umno's life?

"We will continue to be united... we will uphold our creed (akidah) and fight corruption. PR will take over the rule of Malaysia," he said.

In his speech, Azmin spoke on the common issues that all three PR parties were concerned with and fighting against, such as the economy, falling ringgit, debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), goods and services tax (GST), rising cost of living, abuse of power and corruption.

"How do we solve such big problems? We can if we have leaders and a government that are strong and clean.

"(That is why) Umno is afraid of the rise of the people, who want Anwar to save Malaysia, its people and its economy," he said.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, said the people, especially youth, must make a stand.

Anwar's case, he said, was not about the man's innocence or guilt, but about whether the judicial system was independent and free from the influence of the powers that be.

"Malaysians must continue with this struggle. Reform does not happen in a blink of an eye. It needs commitment and time.”

Lim vowed that the coalition and the people would not bow or retreat from their struggles if Anwar was put behind barMajor Zaidi Ahmad at the ‘Jelajah Rakyat Hakim Negara’ in Pematang Pauh last night. He urged the crowd to fight against tyranny. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 8, 2015.s.

"The fight continues and we will ensure our votes (in the next general election) will free him as well as the people.”

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said PR must stand together to ensure that the coalition remained intact, whatever the verdict on Anwar's case may be.

"Whatever the result, our fight continues... the momentum that was set since 1998 cannot be in vain."

Also at the ceramah was Universiti Malaya student leader Fahmi Zainol, who was suspended for two semesters for organising an unauthorised talk featuring Anwar in October last year.

He recounted his troubles with his university and urged youth to decide what kind of politics they wanted for the country.

"We want idea politics that touch on the economy, education, health and other important issues.

"But the ruling government goes with sex politics... we need to decide which we want," he said.

Major Zaidi Ahmad, the former air force pilot who was court marshalled and recently discharged from the military for speaking to the media after he lodged a police report over the indelible ink fiasco during the 2013 general election, also addressed the crowd.

He urged Muslims to remember teachings in the Quran that they must fight against tyranny.

"If we allow tyranny to happen, we will face disaster," he said.

- TMI