The Political Hustle

PM: Reveal list of MPs crossing over

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claims of having enough numbers of Barisan Nasional MPs to form a Government as a mirage and a dream.

Abdullah also threw a challenge to Anwar to reveal the names of the Barisan MPs that had agreed to support him.

“I don’t think he has the names. If he does, I don’t think he would wait to inform the people (of the names).

“If he has the names, he can reveal it and let all Malaysians know. They want to know because the people voted them as MPs and they want to know whether the MPs are running away, doing something else or joining another party,” he said.

He told this to reporters after handing out Hari Raya Aidilfitri aid to the poor and students at Kepala Batas in Penang on Tuesday.

When asked if he would entertain Anwar’s request to have a meeting to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition of power, Abdullah rejected the idea.

“There is no reason for me to meet him because I don’t think he has the names. He is just getting the people to focus on him and his political ploy. I do not need to see him,” he reiterated.

He also scoffed at Anwar’s suggestion that Barisan MPs would be detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) if they crossed over to Pakatan Rakyat.

“How can he suggest that? It is crazy that I would arrest and put these people under ISA simply because of their decision (to crossover).

“No such thing. It is just to portray me as using force and as a dictator,” said Abdullah.
The Prime Minister also denied receiving a letter from Anwar about a smooth transition of power.

“He sent me a letter about current issues in the country. That is a different matter and should not be lumped together (with the letter of smooth transition),” he said.

Earlier in Putrajaya, Abdullah said he did not feel pressured by Anwar’s threat.

“Pressured? Why should I be pressured, this is Anwar’s mirage, he sees something but it is nothing, there is nothing there, it is only a dream,” he told reporter after meeting with secretaries-general of ministries at his office.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also attended the meeting.

Stating that he has known Anwar and his style for a very long time, Abdullah added that when Anwar wants to make known something, he would ensure there are many people gathered to hear it.

“That is his behaviour and later the whole world would know his message. You think he will be requesting me to discuss? He will storm into my room with hundreds of people screaming ‘victory’ behind him,” he said.

Abdullah said he was sure that the date of takeover would be constantly changed until there was actually nothing in the end.

“After this, he will think of another date and then another date; that is “Sang Anwar” in this case.
“At the end what is left is nothing, we will continue to be fascinated (with all these),” he said, adding that the public should not be worried with all the threats and promises made by Anwar.

Tuesday September 16, 2008 MYT 9:55:12 PM The Star

Anwar claims more than 31 MPs will cross over

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that more than 31 Barisan MPs have agreed to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs.

Anwar told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday that he would give the list of the names to the Prime Minister when he meets him.

The Permatang Pauh MP also claimed that the transition to the new Government has been delayed a few days pending the meeting with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition.

“The numbers are increasing by the hour, but as of now, it is in excess of 31 MPs.

"This is not empty talk. I am fully responsible for my statement but we have choose to be patient and use the conciliatory way,” the PKR adviser said.

He called on Abdullah to meet with him, where he said he would even give the Prime Minister the names of Barisan MPs wanting to defect to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance of opposition parties.

“I am appealing (for this meeting) in the name of political stability and a smooth transition. It will be preposterous for the Prime Minister to deny me this meeting,” said Anwar, who was flanked by leaders from PKR, DAP, PAS and even non-member Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Asked why he still refused to give the exact number of defecting MPs or their names, Anwar said there was a fear the MPs would be detained or harassed if their names were released.

Asked what he would do if Abdullah refused to see him, Anwar smiled and replied: “Why assume he will refuse to see me? I am his friend. I believe we will meet.”

He said Pakatan would give Abdullah some time to consider because the latter was having problems within his own party.

Pressed for a deadline for a meeting with Abdullah, Anwar said he did not like to give any ultimatum but it should be within the next few days or “other options would be considered.”

He said he would refer to his coalition partners in Pakatan to discuss the next course of action, but was committed to ensuring the takeover was constitutional.

Anwar was non-committal when asked if he would seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong to present himself as commanding a majority in Parliament, or if he would seek a motion of no-confidence against Abdullah at the next Parliament sitting in October.

He said these options would be discussed with other Pakatan leaders.

Anwar said that in a letter submitted to Abdullah on Monday, Pakatan had made four demands to ensure a smooth transition:

1) That Barisan does not hinder or prevent the MPs from acting in accordance with their conscience, constitutional rights and independentjudgement;
2) That the Barisan government should not invoke the Internal Security Act to detain the MPs or any other current Pakatan MPs;

3) That the Barisan government does not invoke emergency laws or police powers or suspend the Constitution or dissolve Parliament; and

4) That the Barisan government shall not impose roadblocks or impede MPs from going to Parliament or any institution of government.

Tuesday September 16, 2008 MYT 7:15:13 PM The Star

Anwar insists he has enough Barisan MPs to form government

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insists he has the numbers to form the next Government.
However, he did not give details of how many Barisan Nasional members will cross over, or their names.

At Pakatan Rakyat’s 45th Malaysia Day celebration yesterday, Anwar said he had sought a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss a smooth transition of power.

“We have handed a letter signed by all Pakatan Rakyat leaders to Pak Lah. We will give him one or two days to give his response,” he said during his speech at the rally in Kelana Jaya stadium last night.

A group of Pakatan Rakyat MPs had turned up at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier in the day to hand over a letter from their leaders to Abdullah.

The MPs – PKR’s Johari Abdul, DAP’s Loke Siew Fook and PAS’ Dr Hatta Ramli – claimed the letter was “definitely something related to the planned Sept 16 takeover”.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, in his speech, said the celebration marked “a clear and concrete plan towards the change in Government”.

When interviewed later, Kamaruddin claimed that the new Government would be formed in the next few days.

Asked why Anwar did not reveal the numbers or the names of the MPs, Kamaruddin replied that it was due to logistical reasons.

“Some of them are still overseas as you know. Some have been told to stay put in Macau,” he said.

He said Pakatan had obtained the MPs’ word to cross over via signed documents and in other various ways that satisfied the Pakatan leaders of their commitment.

Among the thousands who attended the rally were DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Kit Siang said that it “did not matter whether the change is 916 (Sept 16), 1016 (Oct 16), 1116 (Nov 16) or 1216 (Dec 16)”.

“What is important is for all of us to be united to make the change happen,” he said.

Guan Eng in his speech said he was impressed that for the first time, a Cabinet Minister (de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim) had resigned based on his principles.

“I am proud that for the first time a minister has resigned not because of health or scandal, but because of his principle and idealism in opposing the ISA.

“This has never happened in the history of Malaysia,” he said.

Guan Eng also called upon the other Cabinet ministers who opposed the ISA to not only “talk” but to follow in Zaid’s footsteps and resign.

Tuesday September 16, 2008 The Star