Anwar seeks “smooth transition”

• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

Vigil for ISA detainees at the OMPH Church in Ipoh after sunset Mass on Saturday.

“I don’t think the priest anticipated the response as there weren’t enough candles made available,” says Kinta Kid, who sent in these photos.

1852: Teresa Kok’s mother was deeply disturbed after meeting her daughter in ISA detention. These are her words:

They locked her up once she walked into that room which is only 6′ x 8′. She is not allowed to read newspapers or any other reading materials. She lost all her freedom!

I feel so sad. Yes, they gave her three meals a day, but the food is bad! She had diarrhea this morning and her blood pressure plunged!

Her dad did not notice it but she was so pale when we met her. It pains me seeing her like that. I never expected that my daughter, who spends two-thirds of her time a day servicing the people, fighting for the people’s interest and rights, can end up like this….

I can only encourage her. I told her we are people who believe in God. The Bible tells us those who are victimised because they fight for justice are the blessed people. Such people are children of God. I encourage her with these words. I told her not to give up but keep on praying.

See full text in MySinChew

1838: Abdullah has thrown a spanner into Anwar and the Pakatan’s takeover works. The PM says he will not entertain Anwar’s request to meet him until the list of defecting MPs is made public, reports The Star online.

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.

Anwar, on the other hand, doesn’t want to make the list public ostensibly because he is worried they will be harassed. So, it’s a bit of a stalemate.

1819: The DAP is holding a candle-light vigil for ISA detainees at 8.30pm at the Gurney Drive roundabout in Penang.

1812: The KLCI fell 19 points to reach 1012, while crude oil prices dropped further to US$92 per barrel.

1752: Razaleigh piles on the pressure, calling on Abdullah to resign, reports Harakah Daily.

“Mana orang yang tidak mampu memimpin berhentilah, itu aje.. Saranan saya supaya rakyat dapat cari keselesaan dalam kehidupan dan mendapat pembelaan.

“Tidak boleh lagi hendak main sana sini, ini bukan masanya. Tumpulah kepada rakyat,” katanya pada persidangan media di kediaman di sini, hari ini.

Ku Li yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Gua Musang berkata, masalah rakyat sekarang semakin terdesak kerana harga barang keperluan harian melambung tinggi berikutan kenaikan harga minyak, Jun lalu.

“Sekarang tidak ada sesiapa yang hendak fikirkan masalah rakyat.

Like Anwar, Razaleigh says he would free all ISA detainees if he came to power:

“ISA dibuat untuk lawan Komunis dan subversif yang boleh membawa kemudaratan kepada negara bukan di atas alasan lain. Kalau saya berkuasa saya akan bebas semua yang ditahan. Tidak boleh aniaya seseorang,” katanya.

1742: Asian stock markets have plunged as news of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and takeover of Merrill Lynch sparked concerns over a global financial crisis.

1720: The PM has laughed off Anwar’s claims that he has the numbers, reports the NST.

…Abdullah smiled and said: “If Anwar has the names, please show the whole country. Everyone wants to know.”

This is how the NST is reporting Anwar’s press conference:

No names. No list. No crossovers
Anwar fails to form next Government

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today failed yet again to form the next Government, further undermining his eroding credibility after missing several deadlines he himself had set for becoming Malaysia’s next Prime Minister.

1700: Raja Petra was allowed to meet Marina Lee and their two children, reports The Star:

“He spoke very softly and looked weak, pale and tremendously thin,” Marina told reporters after her hour-long visit with her husband.

Raja Petra complained to her that he was suffering from lack of sleep because the night before, he was “harassed” hourly by officers who recorded statements from him.

“He said he was never physically abused, but was mentally abused,” she said

Marina said her husband was not on a hunger strike as speculated by some quarters but added that his blood sugar level had dropped.

“I am very worried for his safety,” she said, adding that her husband suffers from heart artery blockages and is on medication.

“When he was taken away last Friday, he was allowed to take his medication with him but I am not sure if he is taking them,” she said.

If RPK really has been mentally abused, you can bet that many Malaysians are not going to be amused. Meanwhile, his lawyers have filed a habeas corpus application.

1649: Zaid Ibrahim will now focus his attention on establishing a foundation to bridge the gap between the different races in the country and work among the youth, reports The Star. He is not likely to go back to his law firm, but will remain a senator.  Meanwhile, the PM has asked civil servants to concentrate on their work and not get distracted by the current political scenario. (Why? Were they getting distracted?)

1513: Blog reader Sha, in an immediate reaction, sounds disapppointed:

I really want a change of government, but I don’t think this is going to happen now. Somehow I don’t see the BN MPs crossing the floor as this will be against their self interest. If it’s true that PR has the numbers than this should have just been done quietly without forward warning to the Government. DSAI and PR should not have talked and talked and talked about it thereby scaring Badawi … and all the rest. This resulted in the government doing nasty things to nice people like Teresa Kok, RPK and the Sin Chew reporter. Giving so much notice of intentions is not a good strategy (neither in business nor war). It can affect one’s credibility if goals are not met.

But Han2 sees it differently:

The darkest hour is before dawn…. and Malaysia is ready for a new dawn! Pak Lah, open your ears…. We all want the change and we want it done peacefully….

Ken adds:

Hang on to your hats all. You can sure bet that DSAI has a trick or two up his sleeves. Don’t need no Sun Tzu Art of War when he’s got his … hand all over BN now. … Sha, aim for the stars. If you miss, you still land on the moon! That’s what DSAI is doing. Don’t lose faith!

The reactions pour in, this one from A Little Space:

I am not in agreement with Sha. There has to be a peaceful transition. Anwar cannot just barge into Putrajaya but still has to go through the process of changing the government – first through the present PM and if the PM refuses, Anwar then needs to convince the King to reconvene Parliament for a vote.

1446: “It’s not going to be plain sailing. We have taken a softer option, trying to negotiate with the PM, listening to him and his views … and then move on, seek an audience at the palace and then take it to Parliament … The media are in a state of denial. We will meet and deliberate with the PM and we’ll see what happens in the next few days… We will give time to the PM to seriously consider and act responsibly as PM of this country and to respect the wishes of the people.”

1445: Journalists continue to barrage Anwar with questions. In any democratic nation, we would have been invited for discussions, observes Anwar. The media etc are in a state of denial. “I have signed letters and firm commitments. What makes you assume the PM refuses to see me? He is my friend… He is a politician under siege.”

1437: For now, our position is that we have to respect the existing institutions and write to the sitting PM, says Anwar. “The security and interest of the nation is paramount, even if it means delaying the process by a few days. We have the numbers; we can and are prepared to move.”  The list of MPs are truly representative; I want to allay the fears of Malay groups that they would be under-represented, he adds.

1435: Responding to reporters, Anwar says he cannot show the list now because he claims the MPs will be harassed. But he is willing to show the list to the PM. “We have a slight majority, in excess of (the) 31 (required). It is increasing by the hour. I am serious. I am not joking. This morning I received a signed note from another member. We have the numbers. The important thing is we have in excess of the required number.”

1426: Anwar says he takes responsibility in saying that they have enough MPs, and he is confident that the PM will act responsibly to ensure a peaceful transition. “We affirm that victory is finally at hand.”

1423: The letter sent yesterday urges the administration not to obstruct the MPs, not to detain MPs under the ISA, not to use Emergency or police powers to obstruct the new administration, and not to set up roadblocks to impedge MPs’ access to Parliament.

1420: Anwar says that they have has more than the minimum number of MPs needed from all races and regions. He hopes the process will be peaceful. He urges the government not to persecute their followers like they did with the ACA investigation into Yong Teck Lee and the ISA detention of Teresa Kok.

1415: People are chatting excitedly in the room, waiting for the press conference to start. The press conference gets underway as Anwar arrives.

1400: The press conference is about to begin – see live telecast above.

1354: Najib has scoffed at Anwar’s claim of a change in government while witnessing the signing of an MOU for high-speed broadband access. Anwar had vowed to cancel the mega project if he came to power. (Bernama). Says Najib:

We are always confident. We have been confident that the same government will be in office. That’s why we chose Sept 16 (to launch this project).

1333: It’s double joy for Pas. The Federal Court has declared Pas candidate Hashim Jasin as the rightful winner of the Sanglang state seat in Perlis (reports The Star online). Hashim had filed a petition challenging the election results on grounds of errors during the ballot counting process.

Meanwhile, the Federal Court also confirmed Pas’ Harun Taib as the winner of the Manir state seat in Terengganu (reports Harakah Daily). He had won the seat with a 406-vote majority in the 8 March general election.

1323: Anwar is due to hold a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana at 1400.

1317: The NST reports that Abdullah is calling “Anwar’s bluff”:

…if Anwar had the numbers (of MPs crossing over) he would have revealed it a long time ago and not keep harping about it.

“He would not have requested to see me. He would have just barged into my office with his MPs and supporters,” Abdullah said, when asked about Anwar’s claims that today the Barisan Nasional government would be taken over.

1300: Zaid Ibrahim is sticking to his decision to quit: “I’m not tired, just disappointed. I’m sorry.”

Related posts:

• Anwar re-enters Parliament as PR MPs thump approval
• Anwar, Parliamentary Opposition Leader from 27 Aug?
• Anwar drops a bombshell; opts for Permatang Pauh
• What happens if Anwar is arrested before by-election?
• Anwar locked in a battle of wills