Press Statement From the Office of the Opposition Leader

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, 18 SEPTEMBER 2008

Today Pakatan Rakyat leaders have submitted a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to call an emergency session of Parliament to deliberate a motion of censure against the leadership of YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi no later than Tuesday 23 September 2008.

This is in accordance with Order 11(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament and warrants an immediate response given the gravity of today’s political impasse. A delay in his response would be interpreted as nothing short of a further sabotage of the democratic process and abuse of Executive Power.

The Prime Minister’s haggling on the syntax of our first letter is puerile at best. The intent of our meeting as described in that letter was clearly to discuss the future course of the nation’s leadership – though in deference to his position and in accordance with acceptable norms we remain considerate and polite in our approach.

I find the Prime Minister’s comment about me in his press conference yesterday to be reckless and irresponsible in light of the disastrous outcome of last Friday’s ISA raids.

He has conflated what is essentially an issue of democracy, freedom and the rule of law with national security. The use of the ISA to harass and detain duly elected political opponents is a grave transgression of the law and its continued use would further erode confidence in the current government and exacerbate political instability.

As the incumbent Prime Minister actively holding office and exercising all Executive powers, and as the outgoing Finance Minister, we hold him fully accountable for the current political turmoil and mismanagement of the nation’s economy. His accusation that I have had an adverse impact on the nation’s economy is entirely without basis.

I have met with the key fund managers in the region, representing over USD 1 trillion in assets, and on multiple occasions they were unanimously in support of comprehensive reforms in Malaysia including judicial independence, a free media, a more professional police force and anti-corruption agency, investor friendly laws and assurances on the non-interference of politicians in the governance of Bank Negara. These are policies Pakatan Rakyat has promised to implement– and initiatives that the current administration has done virtually nothing to advance since March 8th.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Leader of Opposition
De-facto leader, Keadilan

Press Statement From the Office of the Opposition Leader

--- PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, 13 SEPTEMBER 2008

The UMNO led BN government is again using the brute force of the ISA to assault those brave and courageous Malaysians who speak out in the name of truth and integrity about the abuses of power, corruption and racism perpetuated by the ruling clique.

I reiterate my unequivocal opposition to the ISA and condemn the unjustified and illegal detention of blogger and social activist Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Seputeh MP and Selangor State Executive Committee Member YB Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng.

On March 8th and again on August 26th, the Malaysian people expressed their support at the polls for a government that is more accountable and that fulfills its mandate as representative of the people. The UMNO-led BN government has ignored this call. Instead of pursuing a reform agenda it has chosen to burn the country to save itself and to maintain its odious grip on power.

We ask the government how far it is willing to go to usurp justice and destroy the institutions of good governance in its attempt to drive the Malaysian people against each other?

We vehemently reject the racial politics used by politicians in the UMNO-led BN government as an attempt to deflect from internal strife within UMNO, and promise that leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat are committed to and capable of building a peaceful, democratic, multiracial society.

We allude to the statement issued by Pakatan Rakyat on 8 September reiterating our full commitment to constitutional guarantees including the position of Islam as the religion of the federation, the freedom to practice other religions, Bahasa Melayu as the national language and the freedom to practice mother tongue languages, and the status of the Malay kings and the special position of the Malays and bumiputera.

I urge the government to assure the Malaysian people that this politically motivated operation is over. As citizens of a nation that professes to adhere to the spirit of its Constitution, we refuse to live another night in fear.

Those who have been detained under the ISA should be released immediately. We will offer every conceivable support to our friends and their families as they face this ordeal.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Opposition Chief
De-facto leader, Keadilan