This day has taken on sudden significance for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at his choosing. He needs to rouse a Barisan Nasional demoralised by the results of Election 2008 while he addresses BN elected representatives he has called to gather.
In contrast, the dark mood of PKR supporters observing the day their de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was convicted of corruption will change totally to celebration, also marking the end of his ban on running for political office. He will savour the moment with his Opposition coalition partners.
PAK LAH PEP TALK
APRIL 10 — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad will address all Barisan Nasional elected representatives on April 14 – the first time he is coming face-to-face with them since Election 2008.
This will be a prep session for MPs and state assemblymen who will face a stronger and more robust Opposition in Parliament and the unfamiliar prospect of being in the minority in Perak, Selangor, Penang and Kedah. The prime Minister is expected to remind BN officials on the importance of attending all sessions in Parliament and the state assemblies, and putting up a credible show during debate time.
He will also use this event to shore up support for his reforms and galvanise BN members, many of whom are still reeling from the election results. The People’s Alliance snared 82 parliamentary seats and controls 5 states today, including two of the country’s most industrialized territories.
For Abdullah – who is under considerable pressure from some Umno members to step down – this session on April 14 will be an opportunity to show coalition members that he has the drive and confidence to lead BN through this uncertain patch. On Sunday, he spoke to some 1,000 Umno officials and signalled that he did not intend to leave the top job in the party and country without a fight.
BN’s component parties have been in a soul-searching mode since March with MCA, Gerakan and MIC trying to find the magic formula to reconnect with the Chinese and Indian communities which swung behind the Opposition in a big way. The prognosis for all three parties is not good.
MCA president Ong Ka Ting is likely to face a challenge from former Health Minister Chua Soi Lek during the party elections later this year. In the meantime, he is leading a party which is finding its relevance to the Chinese community diminishing day by day.
Also in a bind is Gerakan, a party without a home. The loss of its political base of Penang has sent this party into a tailspin. And then there is MIC. It has made the loudest noise of re-branding and reinventing itself since March 8. But news that party strongman Datuk Seri Samy Vellu intends to stay on for another term was received with considerable disappointment by the Indian community.
All the component parties have pledged their loyalty to Abdullah but realistically, it is his support within Umno which will decide his political fate.
ANWAR CELEBRATION RALLY
APRIL 10 — Every year for the past 9 years, April 14 has been bitterly observed by the members and supporters of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as a day of mourning. For them, it was the day the judiciary died absolutely.
They call it “Black 14”. They remember it for the court verdict that sentenced their party's founder and de factor leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to 6 years in prison on a corruption charge. This year, the mood has turned. Instead of mourning, it is now one of jubilation.
Party vice-president, Azmin Ali, earlier today announced a celebratory rally, “A countdown from Black 14 to the people's victory” to be held on the date at the reconstructed Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru. All the party's top leaders as well as representatives from the Pakatan Rakyat component parties are expected to be in attendance.
According to the post on Anwar's blog (anwaribrahimblog.com), some 50,000 people are expected to turn up, which will see Anwar delivering his first official speech in public after the March 8 general elections.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8.45pm and continue until midnight, which will also mark the end of Anwar's 5-year ban from running for political office as a result of the corruption conviction.
“The rally will signify the new beginning of his political career which allows him to be actively involved in politics and hold position in political party,” said Azmin.
However, it is unlikely that there will be any annoucements of resignations from elected PKR members to pave way for their de factor leader's entry into political office. Not at this point in time at any rate.
“Under the SPR's (Election Commission's) rules and regulations, a by-election can only be held 6 months after a general election. No exceptions. I've checked,” said Faisal Mustaffa, the newly-appointed parliamentary secretary to Loh Gwo-Burne, PKR's MP for Kelana Jaya and one of those who had initially offered to “resign” to make way for Anwar's political comeback.
Azmin, who is also rally organiser, does not expect any trouble with the police or federal authorities at the event as it is held on land privately owned by the Selangor government, now under the Pakatan Rakyat rule.
Previously, commemorative activities organised by the party have usually ended in PKR members and supporters being arrested, most notably party vice-presidents Tian Chua and Dr Sanusi Osman.
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