By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani and Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider
All is well in Pakatan Rakyat, claims Anwar. — file pic
While Anwar admitted that there may be differences amongn DAP, PKR and PAS, he stressed that the leaders were still working towards a “cohesive alliance.”
“It is not true. I don’t know how it was leaked to say that there was a strong difference of opinion, because the agreement is that we must agree on a consensus and then we went through everything. For example, today we focused on the preamble and the issue of local council [elections] was in the last meeting.
“But you know the position of each parties. Like, for Islam, PAS will of course be stronger; while on Chinese education, the DAP will be stronger. So, we will find a formula so that it will become a very clear policy. I think you will be happy to read this final draft because this is really strong.
“It is a clear testament in terms of our commitment to forge a cohesive alliance,” he told reporters after chairing the PR technical committee meeting in Parliament here.
While PR’s inaugural convention this Saturday has been touted as a major milestone in the coalition’s push to take Putrajaya, early reports of its common platform has failed to excite.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the PR leadership has toned down a number of proposals prepared for the common platform.
DAP’s representative in the committee, Petaling Jaya Utara MP and party chief economist Tony Pua, also confirmed that the draft now needs a few more tweaks before it is presented at the bloc’s convention this Saturday.
No details of the draft were revealed but The Malaysian Insider understands that the content will be of past agreements between the three parties on matters related to democratic principles, the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, social welfare and equitable economics.
It is learnt that opposition to the restoration of local council elections is coming primarily from PKR — the party which, in its 2008 election manifesto, proclaimed to be all for “fertilising democracy” through implementing local council elections should it wrest federal power.
The DAP is the only party unanimously backing a return to local elections.
PAS, on the other hand, has remained silent on the issue.
The Malaysian Insider understands that only a small pocket of leaders within the Islamic party is willing to give the nod on the matter.
Anwar brushed aside allegations that PAS and DAP disagreed on the local council election issue.
“I don’t think you should put it that way but there were finer points that we needed to address. We are committed to the democratisation process and there is no turning back. The rest will have to look and read, and then we will respond.
“I repeat, democratic principle is a fundamental issue. It is a non-negotiable issue as far as Pakatan Rakyat is concerned,” he said.
He also confirmed that the common policy was ready and that PR is “the party for the future.”
“The Pakatan Rakyat policy is finished; actually, we had resolved all the issues last Monday.
“I think this is the first time that we actually spell out some very contentious issues such as language, education, and religion. I think we have gone far ahead. This is the party for the future,” he added.
Since the suspension of local elections in the 1960s, councillors have been appointed directly by the state government and this has since been turned into a political reward for ruling party officials.
The restoration of local elections is one of the demands made by electoral reforms coalition Bersih, which PR parties are a part of.
In November 2007, the group organised the largest street demonstration in the city in a decade, mobilising some 60,000 protesters to demand for free and fair elections.
The coalition’s effort in mobilising support contributed to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) worst electoral performance in Election 2008, which was held just four months later.
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