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Under attack, Pakatan moves to tighten discipline

UPDATED

By Clara Chooi

PETALING JAYA, Feb 22 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim moved today to contain the fallout from squabbling among Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers by announcing the revival of plans to quickly set up a disciplinary panel for the opposition coalition.

His announcement comes in the wake of open criticisms against DAP by lawmakers in his PKR party.

The show of open dissent has open up the coalition to attacks from its rivals in Barisan Nasional (BN) who have criticised PR of being an unstable coalition incapable of leading any government.

Following a PR leadership council meeting today, Anwar said that the coalition’s secretariat was also willing to provide better avenues for members to voice their grievances against the leadership.

While maintaining that there were enough opportunities for disgruntled MPs or state assemblymen to voice their views, the PKR de facto leader said that if members felt otherwise, the PR leadership was willing to improve itself.

He noted however that rebel MPs like Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng should have maintained more decorum when voicing their opinions against PR leaders.

“The impression created by some of the MPs that they cannot criticise for example the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng or the Selangor Mentri Besar (Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim) is not true.

“There is a weekly committee for MPs to air their views where they can bring up any grievances against any leader whether from PAS, DAP or PKR. However, if they feel we need to expand that, then we can. I have no issues,” he told a press conference.

Anwar added that at present, the PR had at least seven ongoing committees involving MPs and non-MPs.

“Then each party has its respective leadership meetings. The MPs have a forum too and the PR secretariat itself has about five to six committees.

“The GST issue, for example, we sit and discuss and some agree and some disagree. However if they feel there is need for improvement, we are ready to do so,” he said.

On rebel MPs like Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, Anwar spoke of the need for decorum.

“We are not stopping them from voicing their opinions but they should be more patient. When you call a leader a ‘dictator’ for example... that is not good,” he said.

He was referring to Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim, who has since left PKR, and whose relentless criticisms against Lim had sparked off much controversy.

Zahrain left the party on Feb 12 to turn independent and claimed to have lost confidence in Lim and party leader Anwar himself.

Tan, who had joined Zahrain in his open criticism of Lim, is set to attend the PKR board disciplinary board proceedings tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that the PR secretariat had decided on reviving its plan to set up the PR disciplinary committee, which would be chaired by PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah.

“Sivarasa will represent all three parties in the PR and will report to the secretariat. The committee will be tasked to handle disciplinary matters especially those that concern the three parties,” said Anwar.

PAS to open up fully to non-Muslims in 5 years

Wong Choon Mei

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1: PAS has set itself a five-year target to fully open its doors to members of all races and religions so long as they are Malaysians and are determined to champion the party’s Islamic cause.

“Definitely, PAS will stay an Islamic party,” Mujahid Ysof Rawa, chairman of the PAS National Unity Committee, told Harakahdaily.

“But we recognize we are also a multiracial country. So we hope within five years’ time, we will be able to iron out all the kinks and invite all the races and religions to be PAS members so long as they understand and fully support our cause.”

Last year, PAS endorsed separate constitution allowing its Supporters Club - its longstanding non-Muslim wing - to become a Supporters Congress. The upgrade is significant because it gives greater rights to the non-Muslims, including additional platforms for them to play a more active role in party activities.

According to Mujahid, the Congress’s steering committee held its first meeting last week. The party plans an official launch in April. Vice-president Salahuddin Ayub has already been named its adviser.

“Mind you, the Congress is already officially a wing in the party. The constitution has been accepted by the PAS central committee and it is all systems go,” said Mujahid.

“What is going to happen in April is just a launch to make it known that our Club has been upgraded to a full-fledged Congress and if all goes well, in five years’ time, the non-Muslim wing can be fully assimilated into the party proper.”

PAS for All

Members of the Supporters Congress will be able to participate at the party’s muktamar or annual meetings as special representatives. Congress leaders will be elected at the federal, state and district levels but these will be ineligible to either stand for or elect the supreme leadership in PAS.

The Congress will also be formed at the national, state, and district levels but will not extend to individual branches. It will be headed by a leader, who will in turn be aided by a deputy; five vice-leaders; a secretary; an assistant secretary; a treasurer; and a committee of 18. It will also incorporate its own Youth and Women’s wings.

PAS fielded non-Muslim candidates at the 2008 general election. Its Supporters Club was formed in 2004 and has over 20,000 members comprising various races including Indians, Chinese, Siamese, and Iban.

“The politics of communalism and racism are not only outdated but they are wrong in principle and against the teachings of Islam,” said Mujahid.

“We have to evolve a new model whether all stakeholders in the country can participate in PAS but without PAS losing its Islamic backbone and focus. Can it be done? Certainly, we believe so. Look at our Supporters Club. That is already a reality and has been very successful, so much so we have upgraded it to a Congress. Now we want the Congress to get going while we prepare for the final step. I am sure we can do it, PAS can be for all.”