Ready to meet, but the solution is free and fair elections in Perak and let Perakians decide

Anwar: We are ready to meet too
Rahmah Ghazali @www.malaysiakini.com

May 14, 2009

Pakatan Rakyat is willing to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Perak but will not budge from its call for a snap state election.

“We are ready to meet him. We will give him our views and we will listen to what he has to say,” said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim after chairing a Pakatan meeting at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He, however, said Pakatan was very clear in what it believes is the ultimate solution – the dissolution of the state assembly to pave way for a state election so that the people can decide who they want as their government. Najib has so far ruled out the prospect of calling for a state election.

Anwar was asked today on what was the point of having the discussion if there was no mutual agreement because Najib has ruled out having a snap elections. The opposition leader, however, refused to answer directly, saying that: “After the meeting, if it happens, we will tell you the outcome as soon as possible.”

Nevertheless, he said Pakatan was ready to meet Najib for the sake of strengthening democracy in Perak. Earlier today, Najib said he was ready to hold talks with Pakatan to find a solution to the Perak political impasse.  But the premier had imposed some conditions – that the talks should not have any pre-conditions and be open to explore all possible solutions. He also dismissed talks that BN was afraid to face a state election for fear of losing to Pakatan.

Today’s Pakatan meeting also saw the presence of the coalition’s ousted Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Legal Action will continue

Despite Pakatan’s strong stand in giving back power to the people through fresh elections, Anwar stated that the legal course “can continue not withstanding the fact in the past about strong reservations against the conduct of judges even at the highest level.”

“But what has been our decision today…is the decision ultimately rests on the people of Perak,” he said.

Apart from that, Anwar said Pakatan has been “extremely patient” with the ongoing political crisis in the northern state and with this, they are willing to seek an amicable settlement. On whether Pakatan would be willing to compromise in holding a fresh election when a  meeting is held with the prime minister, Anwar replied: “Our position is clear but we are prepared to listen.”

Meanwhile, Lim said the meeting with the prime minister is “appropriate” because he is the person who is “most responsible” behind the power grab in Perak last February.

No to unity government

The DAP stalwart also cleared the air on whether working together would result in the formation of an unity government. “We never talked about coalition (unity) government. No one in Pakatan mentioned anything about it. What we want to do is to resolve the crisis that has dragged on for three months,” he said.

Anwar also echoed the same, saying it is not a question of cooperation in forming a unity government, but “working together to resolve the crisis.” “Forming an unity government does not arise at all…We are suggesting a meeting that will take place as soon as possible to try and resolve this. Our proposal has always been that the people must decide,” he said.

PAS president Hadi described the recent development where BN leaders themselves are calling for fresh elections to settle the crisis as “the voice of the majority.”

“It is not only Pakatan calling for fresh elections. Even academicians and UMNO leaders have made open statements that the mandate should be given back to the people. “And we consider this as a majority point of view,” he said.

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