Anwar’s crossover claim baseless: Shahrir

Anwar’s crossover claim baseless: Shahrir

10-06-2008
by Pauline Puah

PUTRAJAYA: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government views opposition figure Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that the Pakatan Rakyat has the numbers to form the next federal government as “baseless”, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad said yesterday.

“If we (BN) took him seriously, we would not have increased the fuel prices to allow him to take over the (federal) government,” he said in an interview at his office yesterday.

“Since we don’t believe him, we are taking a long-term view in managing the country’s resources,” he added.

Shahrir, who is also Umno supreme council member, said the move to increase fuel prices was not an act of political suicide.

“This is a necessary thing to do... but of course opportunists will try to spin anything,” he said.

On Sunday, Anwar told the press that it had become more attractive for BN lawmakers to cross over following the fuel price hike.

Anwar had earlier reiterated that the Pakatan would take over the federal government by Sept 16 this year as it had already had more than 30 BN members of parliament who were willing to cross over to the opposition.

Shahrir said there was no indication that Pakatan will form the next government since it did not even have a shadow cabinet.

“That would actually indicate the readiness of Pakatan Rakyat to form the next government rather than only Anwar Ibrahim’s aspiration and ambition,” he said.

“And why would the country do better with only a one-member majority government when you already have a government with a majority of 36?” he asked.

Shahrir said that among the reasons why the BN government was unfazed at Anwar’s claim was that “politicians cannot keep a secret longer than two days”.

“To keep the secret till Sept 16, it would be a world record,” he said.

Shahrir said he would not contest for a higher post in the upcoming Umno party election.

“I will offer myself as a supreme council member. I don’t have time for campaigning,” he added.