Anwar claims change may happen in two to three days - Sun

PETALING JAYA (Sept 16, 2008)

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader and Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed tonight the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) "has the numbers" to form the government and indicated that this may happen "within the next two to three days".

He also claimed that PR leaders have written to the prime minister to "seek peaceful and orderly power transition".

Speaking to about 15,000 people at the PR Malaysia Day celebration at Kelana Jaya Stadium, Anwar declared: “We confirm that we have the numbers for 916 (Sept 16) tonight, and tomorrow it is d-day. We are ready to form the government.

“We want the transition to be done peacefully, and the PR leaders have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi seeking an immediate meeting and asking to address two urgent matters -- to release all political detainees and to discuss the smooth transition of power."

Anwar said "this is a change the Malaysian people have been pushing for".

He criticised the recent detentions under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and praised de facto law minister Datuk Zaid brahim for "taking a stand against the detentions by stepping down from his position".

Anwar also asked all Malaysians to fly the Malaysian flag today and wear red arm bands to show their solidarity.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar told the rally: “We hope that after 51 years of independence and the 45 years after the formation of Malaysia, there will be changes with the formation of the new government.”

(From left) Khalid, Dr Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar, Kit Siang and Guan Eng. Pix courtesy of The Star

DAP veteran and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang said Malaysia Day should reflect the freedom of the country but this was not so with the detention of the three people under the ISA -- Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, who was released a day later.

Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Arjunaidi Mohammad said the rally went on smoothly and there was no untoward incident, except for cases of vehicles obstructing traffic, which were issued with summonses.

Present at the rally were Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Keadilan president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, Selangor executive councillors Elizabeth Wong, Dr Halimah Ali, Rodziah Ismail, Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jayakumar, and representatives from several NGOs.