Zaid: Pakatan has 'good chance' of toppling BN

By Teoh El Sen

KLANG: Pakatan Rakyat has a very good chance of toppling the BN government if the coalition's components -- the PKR, DAP and PAS -- were to work together, Pakatan coordinator Zaid Ibrahim said yesterday.
Addressing a crowd 1,400-odd DAP supporters at the Hokkien Association Hall last night, the former law minister urged for stronger cooperation among the three political parties.
"To beat BN, we have to be together. If we work towards that, then we have a very good chance of toppling the government," said Zaid at the fundraising dinner, with the slogan “all out towards Putrajaya”.
"Barisan today is a party for the rich people, it is no longer a party for the rakyat. Pakatan Rakyat is the BN of the future. PAS and DAP have struggled for almost 50 years, PKR not so long, but we have also struggled. The BN, however, has stopped altogether, it has forgotten how to struggle, and it has forgotten the people. It now only knows money and power."
Zaid said that to him, Sibu was a "very important decision" that has been made, and that it signals a change that may be reflected in the next general election.
"Both Hulu Selangor and Sibu were BN strongholds. And then even in Hulu Selangor, they almost lost," said Zaid, adding that he felt that the Muslim Melanau's votes were crucial for the Pakatan win.
"We must not be scared. They [BN leaders] say if you don't vote for them, they won't give us money. That's not true. Look at how much they need to spend because of the opposition. I say that if you want more money, vote for the opposition... there is nothing they can do to stop us."
Zaid condemned infighting but praised the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) with its open inquiries, which he said is something not usually found.
Zaid was the third to speak at the dinner organised by DAP Klang Utara, Kapar, Mertajam and Kota Alam Shah.
'Toxins in the body'
The others speakers were Sekinchan state assemblyman Ng Suee Lin, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim, who was also Sungai Pinang state assemblyman.
Ng attacked former Selangor menteri besar Dr Khir Toyo as well as the recent "phenomenon" of defecting MPs, likening them to "toxins in the body" that should be cleansed.
Teo also criticised the ruling government and challenged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to fulfil his recent "deal" of giving out RM5 million for flood mitigation for Rejang Park people during the Sibu by-election, saying:" If he was sincere, he could have given to schools all over Malaysia. If he does not fulfil his promise, then he is not fit to be the PM."
Meanwhile, Pua said that he had lost faith in Najib's New Economic Model as there have been too many instances where there were no open tenders to big projects, citing Naza TTDI's award to build Malaysia's largest exhibition and convention centre.
Pua also alleged cronyism in the decisions on the sports betting licence issued to Vincent Tan's company Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, and the Defence Ministry's purchase of 257 units of 8x8 armoured-wheeled vehicle amounting to RM8 billion from DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd.
Selcat's inquirySpeaking last, Teng compared Selangor government's free water policy to Syabas water privatisation.
Teng said: "BN says it can change, but change what? It never says. We have done in two years what the BN did not do for 50 years. I am confident we can be the next government".
When FMT asked Teng, who is the Selcat chairman, of its list of witnesses for the inquiry into the alleged corruption involving state-owned sand-mining company Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), he said:"We will not disclose the details of the proceeding, including the witnesses so as to prevent any unnecessary side issues being raised. We also want to prevent the press from harrassing the witnesses."
He said the inquiry will focus on the administrative perspective of the issue, including whether procedures and policies were followed, and whether there are any loopholes.
He said the committee will then make suggestions to the government.
"In the course of the inquiry, we may unearth a person who may be guilty and at that point the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or the police would have to move in."