Monday, September 15, 2008

Anwar: Sept 16 to ‘mark a clear change’ - Star

PETALING JAYA: Sept 15, 2008

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Sept 16 will mark a “clear and concrete movement towards a change in the Federal Government” but did not specify if he would meet his own deadline in toppling the ruling government.

At Pakatan Rakyat gathering to commemorate the 45th Malaysia Day at the Kelana Jaya stadium here on Monday night, he urged his supporters to have faith.

PKR treasurer and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, and DAP secretary general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng were among those who attended the gathering.

Thousands of supporters had packed the stadium, shouting “Reformasi” and issuing challenges to the ruling Barisan government.

Anwar had previously announced that he had sufficient numbers of Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament who were going to cross over to the opposition alliance for him to form a new government on Tuesday, Sept 16.

But sodomy allegations, a hastily-arranged overseas trip by Barisan backbenchers and a crackdown using the Internal Security Act have put the brakes on the PKR adviser’s takeover plans.

Earlier, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said that six months ago, the idea of taking over the government would have been unthinkable.

“But now the people believe ... it’s not when 916 (or Sept 16) will happen, but the fact that Pakatan can actually topple the government,” he said, adding that the ISA arrests of an online portal editor, an MP and a journalist had pipped things to the opposition alliance’s favour.

No comments: