Malaysia's three opposition parties announced Tuesday a strategic alliance after humbling the ruling coalition with unprecedented gains in last month's elections.
The parties, rallied by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five of the 13 states in the March 8 polls that handed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition its worst electoral result since 1969.
"In today's meeting, we have proposed to consolidate the cooperation between the three parties under the name 'Pakatan Rakyat' (People's Front)," Anwar said.
The rare meeting was attended by leaders from the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), Keadilan and the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The three parties hold 82 seats in the new 22-seat parliament.
Anwar, who is Keadilan's advisor said a previous PAS plan for the formation of an Islamic state was no longer an issue.
"We never raised the issue of an Islamic state (in the meeting). I must reiterate that this issue had not cropped up in PAS manifesto," he said.
PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would not take any action that would create anxiety among Malaysia's multi-racial society.
"PAS is an Islamic party. But we have a common ideology and that is we will fight for justice, we oppose corruption and promote human rights," he said.
PAS had previously advocated an Islamic state but dropped the controversial issue in its 2008 election manifesto.
A loose alliance by DAP, Keadilan and PAS failed to topple the government in 1999 after Chinese voters rejected the opposition for fear of a PAS Islamic agenda.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said the alliance was a "logical step forward" following the opposition's stunning gains.
"The people have voted for change from the verdict of the March 8 polls and it is not for an Islamic state or (sharia) hudud laws," he said.
"Malaysians want justice, transparency and good governance. In that basis we are coming together," Lim added.
Anwar said the alliance would uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race.
The front will meet on April 27 to decide on the strategies it should adopt, he said.
"This coalition will work and we will disappoint the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. There are no junior and senior partners among us," Anwar said.
Agence France-Presse - 4/1/2008 8:51 AM GMT
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