(Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Adding fuel to public resentment over the latest round of petrol price hike, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today promised to bring down prices once the Pakatan Rakyat assume control of the central government.
How strong is this commitment? Well, the man dubbed Malaysia's prime minister-in-waiting said "I will resign immediately" if a Pakatan government is unable to roll back the subsidy cuts which have produced a steep 78 sen rise for unleaded petrol to RM2.78 a litre and diesel by RM1 to RM2.58 a litre.
Anwar, also regarded as the de facto Opposition leader, has capitalised on a Malaysian ground swell of displeasure, speaking out against the fuel hike in regional and international media. He returned today from Manila where he was lionised by Philippine TV broadcasters and newspapers.
In a press conference at Parti Keadilan Rakyat head office in Petaling Jaya, he announced new members – former Abim president Dr Mohd Noor Manuti and Felicia Lim, who had served in the MCA exco – for the party supreme council. PKR has also been strengthened by 50,000 new members.
Anwar stuck to his guns that there will be the required number of at least 30 MPs who will cross over giving Pakatan Rakyat a simple majority in Parliament to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional government soon. He also confidently re-stated that the defections will take place by Sept 16 or Malaysia Day.
For the moment, he explained that secrecy was necessary because the system is still "quite repressive" in the country and hence, divulging details of the MPs ready to switch camps might compromise their security. He said he has been meeting some of them outside the country.
The former deputy prime minister also said he can now openly participate in Malaysian politics – the registrar of society has given him a letter to that effect. This means Anwar's ban from politics expired on April 14 this year and he added that he doesn't require the attorney-general's approval to stand in a by-election.
Anwar's return planJun 09, 2008
The New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim promised a by-election this year to enable him to return to Parliament.
He also said he was continuing talks with potential Barisan Nasional defectors to form the government in which he would become prime minister.
He said he met several BN members of parliament during a visit to the Philippines recently but declined to reveal their names.
At least 30 MPs would need to cross over to allow the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to form the Federal Government.
"People who talk to us have to fly very quietly to neighbouring capitals just to convey their message and positions. We have to protect our friends and the other MPs," Anwar said after meeting PKR supreme council members yesterday at the party's new headquarters in Merchant Square, Tropicana, here.
BN component parties, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, have consistently denied the former deputy prime minister's frequent claims of impending crossovers.
Rumours of multi-million ringgit offers to buy over BN MPs have, in turn, been denied by the PKR.
Anwar described speculation that defectors would not be welcomed by some in the Pakatan Rakyat as "irrelevant".
"Anyone who subscribes to the policies and agenda of Pakatan Rakyat will be considered part of the team," he said.
Anwar claimed the PKR had more than 300,000 members and had received 50,000 applications, including from the BN.
There was no "moral basis" for Umno and BN MPs to stay with the present government, he said.
"It is a heavy price on the nation to keep harping on the racist agenda and sentiments. I will not create political instability."
He also vowed to resign if he failed to reduce fuel prices should he come to power.
Malaysia's Anwar says fuel hike to hasten govt fall
Sun Jun 8, 2008By Sanjeev Miglani
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday the government's unpopular decision to raise fuel prices will hasten its fall, as more members from the ruling coalition break ranks.
The hike in line with a global surge in oil prices has stoked public anger against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is already battling for his political life after the worst electoral performance in his coalition's 50-year rule in March.
Small and scattered protests have taken place against the 41 percent increase in petrol prices and 63 percent for diesel, which Anwar said was the result of the government's failure to manage its finances well despite being a new oil exporter.
The government says fuel subsidies have become financially crippling. Pump prices in Malaysia are still one of the cheapest in Asia.
"Politically, the message was clear on 8th of March, economically it's now a disaster. That is why we are calling on them to resign," Anwar told a news conference ahead of a rally called in the capital to build support against the ruling coalition.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, has previously said that he had enough lawmakers to topple Abdullah's government following the election on March 8 and was waiting for the right moment.
On Sunday, Anwar, sensing blood, said the plan for a change in government was on track as more members from Abdullah's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition were drawn to his group, angry over what he said was the "highest single increase" in fuel prices around the world.
"Our timetable (for party crossovers) is still on. It's on schedule and now it's more attractive after the price hikes."
Anwar said in the past three months alone, his party had received 50,000 applications for membership and these included members of constituent parties of the ruling coalition.
"We have seen clearly more interest and support for Pakatan Rakyat (opposition alliance). This applies even to members of parliament. Even some of them have been encouraged to approach me directly even though they are being closely monitored," he said.
But he didn't give any details and analysts say that Anwar, who was cast into the political wilderness after being dumped in 1998 by his former mentor, ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has repeatedly made claims without showing any evidence.
The government said it would save 13.7 billion ringgit ($4.23 billion) as part of a broad overhaul of its heavily subsidised energy price system.
The money used for subsidies, which eat up a third of the budget, would be better spent on development projects, the government said.
Abdullah, fighting to fend off a challenge to his leadership from within and stave off opposition attempts to organise defections, will spell out measures this week to ease the burden on consumers, state media has said.
The proposals include ways for state bodies to save costs, widen the social safety net for the poor, increase the number of price-controlled items and improve public transport.M'sia's Anwar seeks govt ouster over fuel hike
Jun 09, 2008
Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR - THOUSANDS of Malaysians took part in the biggest opposition protest against a sharp rise in fuel prices that has stoked public anger in the oil exporting country.
The rally on Sunday in a football ground in the capital by opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim was part of a series planned to pile pressure on beleaguered Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to either reconsider the oil and diesel price rise or resign.
'Reformasi, reformasi', the crowd in a poor, largely ethnic Malay part of Kuala Lumpur shouted, recalling Mr Anwar's rallying call for reforms from a 1998 campaign after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.
'Politically, the message was clear on March 8, economically it's now a disaster. That is why we are calling on them to resign,' Mr Anwar said at the late night rally.
Mr Abdullah, fighting for political survival after leading his coalition to its worst electoral performance in five decades of rule in March, has said the price rise was necessary in line with a global surge in oil prices.
Fuel subsidies have become financially crippling, the government said. Pump prices in Malaysia are still one of the cheapest in Asia.
But Mr Anwar said the decision to raise petrol prices by 41 per cent and 63 per cent for diesel will hasten the government's fall as members of the ruling coalition begin to break ranks over the move that would drive inflation to a 10-year high.
Mr Anwar has said he has enough lawmakers to topple the government following the March 8 election and was waiting for the right moment.
He said in the past three months alone his party had received 50,000 applications for membership and these included members of constituent parties of the ruling coalition.
'We have seen clearly more interest and support for Pakatan Rakyat (the opposition alliance). This applies even to members of Parliament. Even some of them have been encouraged to approach me directly even though they are being closely monitored,' he said.
But he did not give any details and analysts say Mr Anwar, who was cast into the political wilderness after being dumped in 1998 by his former mentor, ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has repeatedly made claims without showing any evidence.
Protests
Protests in Malaysia, unlike in countries such as India and Indonesia which too have raised fuel prices, have been small and scattered, partly because of restrictions on public assembly.
But the opposition has planned a demonstration on July 12 when it says it will bring 100,000 people into the city centre to demand that fuel prices be restored to earlier levels.
The government has said it would save RM13.7 billion (S$5.8 billion) as part of a broad overhaul of its heavily subsidised energy price system.
The money used for subsidies, which eats up a third of the budget, would be better spent on development projects, the government said.
Mr Abdullah, also fighting to fend off a challenge to his leadership from within, will spell out measures this week to ease the burden on consumers, state media said.
The proposals include ways for state bodies to save costs, widen the social safety net for the poor, increase the number of price-controlled items and improve public transport. -- REUTERSMonday June 9, 2008
Anwar tells of Manila meeting
PETALING JAYA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted that he met some Barisan Nasional leaders in Manila recently and claimed that he was confident of meeting the Sept 16 deadline for the coalition’s MPs to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.
“I was invited to Manila to give a talk and some of them met me there,” he said but declined to reveal how many Barisan MPs were involved “for the sake of their security”.
“Now it is more attractive after the fuel price hike.”
Anwar said that “under normal circumstances we do not agree with crossovers” but because the Barisan was in a constant state of denial and the economy was mismanaged, Pakatan Rakyat had no choice but to lead the country.
Anwar said he could contest in a by-election anytime as he had received the green light from the Registrar of Societies.
“I am still gauging the support of the different constituencies and have not decided where to contest.
“Some MPs told me they were willing to surrender their seats to let me contest,” he told reporters yesterday after PKR’s supreme council meeting at the party’s new headquarters in Tropicana here.
On the price of fuel, he said Pakatan Rakyat would reduce the price of oil when it formed the Government.
“In the light of increasing oil price and economic mismanagement there has been an increasing interest in PKR.”
Yesterday, eight leaders from MIC, MCA and Umno joined PKR.
Anwar said PKR had about 300,000 members and that 50,000 new members joined last month.
He said the Government had given incentives to richer organisations and withdrawn subsidies for the lower-income people.
“It is mind-boggling to increase the fuel price and burden the people and force them into poverty-stricken conditions.”
He added that Malaysia was an oil exporting country and Petronas was not transparent in declaring its accounts.
“Billions of ringgit have come in the form of oil revenue and we still do not know how this money is spent.
“Petronas must be accountable and transparent in Parliament as the oil is a national reserve and its revenue must be shared by the rakyat. Increasing the price of oil is not the proper thing to do,” said Anwar.
At a meeting later last night, he suggested the five Pakatan Rakyat-led states – Penang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan – begin an austerity drive to help alleviate the people’s suffering due to the latest hike in fuel price.
Anwar said the states concerned should strive to reduce administrative costs to ensure that allocations for development and the people’s benefit would not be affected.
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