Anwar: Indians not left out of manifesto

Anwar Ibrahim said the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto transcends racial groups as well as various subgroups including the Indian community, which is not neglected.

Giving the examples of schools, the PKR de facto leader said all Chinese and Tamil schools as well as missionary schools would be assisted.

“It is not directed at a particular community. This is an assurance that every citizen - Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Dayak - is accorded the respect and given the attention.

“I met leaders of the Indian community last night in Hulu Selangor and generally, they are very receptive as education is a major problem, issues of marginalisation of the community and crime had been raised. However, these issues are addressed in our national thrust in the Pakatan Rakyat policy which is not addressed to the subgroups,” he said.

“This is the manifesto of the rakyat where we address issues of rising prices, commodities, lodging, good governance and support for all types of schools.”

He emphasised this is not a BN manifesto as the Pakatan manifesto transcends racial boundaries.

Anwar had been asked why there were no specific policies addressed to the Indian community in the Pakatan manifesto.
‘Lahad Datu shows weak enforcement’

On the issue of the incursion in Lahad Datu, Anwar said the federal government has been extremely soft in dealing with this and it is compromising the people’s security in Sabah.

He said Sabah joined Malaysia with the expectation that there will be security.

“The premise of legitimacy of any government is to protect the security of the country. I can understand there have been negotiations but the authorities have been exceedingly soft on the militant activity.

“I have received a lot of calls from friends in Lahad Datu and they express a lot of concern why the government is taking so long. There is no clear position or tough stance taken and this is certainly a cause for concern,” he said in commenting on the incursion by 30 armed Filipinos there since Feb 9.

Earlier, Anwar announced that an International Conference on Malaysia’s 13th general elections would be held on March 4 and 5, where he said there are serious concerns over the integrity of the election process as highlighted in the reports of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms.

“The conference will be held even if Parliament is dissolved and it will see the participation of a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, the speaker, members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations like Bersih, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed.”

There will also be international speakers from Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Australia.

Asked whether there is a possibility the international participants being deported as had happened to Australian lawmaker Nick Xenophon, Anwar said there is no guarantee under this semi-authoritarian regime.

“We hope this will not happen and the speaker has agreed to give his cooperation in participating in the conference,” he said.

Anwar also questioned the BN’s sincerity in signing the integrity pledge as some of those who signed have questionable integrity following allegations of corruption, and other scandals like the Port Klang Free Zone, Scorpene submarine and the National Feedlot Corporation.