I welcome the sensible and Malaysian-centric stand and approach of Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) that the pressing issues of the country are political reforms and socio-economic injustices like the killing of Teoh Beng Hock and 1MDB scandal and not hudud implementation.
Khalid Samad, the GHB MP for Shah Alam, has told The Malaysian Insider that GHB would be consistent on this, which clearly differentiated it from PAS.
Khalid said:
“We won’t be doing a U- turn, not like PAS saying in the past that hudud is not a priority and then suddenly making it into something that is the only issue of concern.
“For Harapan Baru, it is not a priority, from our understanding it is the last item to be implemented when everything else is in place.
“There are other issues like national unity, the economy, political conflicts which has to be addressed. That would be the priority.”
I had in fact tried to save Pakatan Rakyat from from being killed by PAS Muktamar in June when two weeks before the PAS Muktamar, I proposed an Eight-Year “Save PR” Roadmap by all three PR parties – DAP, PKR and PAS – reaffirming the PR Common Policy Framework which had won the support of 52% of the electorate in the 13th General Election.
In my media statement of 24th May 2015, I had said:
“Time is running out for Pakatan Rakyat.
“In two weeks’ time, Pakatan Rakyat may cease to exist.
This is a most ludicrous political development.
“UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) are at their weakest in history, holding to power in Putrajaya as the first minority government in Malaysian history…
“This is the greatest opportunity for Pakatan Rakyat, formed seven years ago after the political tsunami of the 2008 general election, which smashed the hitherto unbroken two-thirds parliamentary majority of the UMNO/BN coalition and saw the establishment of five Pakatan Rakyat state governments of Penang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.
“The hopes and expectations for change of Federal government and a new Prime Minister in the person of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the 13th General Elections on May 5, 2013 were frustrated by an undemocratic electoral system which allowed the UMNO/BN coalition to snatch victory from Pakatan Rakyat through a majority of parliamentary seats despite a minority of the votes and to continue as the Putrajaya government.
“The historic change of Federal Government in Malaysia has been postponed from the 13th General Election to the 14th General Election, which must be held by 2018.
“All the conditions for such a historic change are in place, except that at this moment, Pakatan Rakyat is itself on the brink of disintegration.
“There is only one way to save PR from disintegration as it embodies the best hopes of Malaysians for change and improvement of the quality of life of all Malaysians.
“This is the adoption of an eight-year Pakatan Rakyat Roadmap with a re-commitment by all the three component parties of DAP, PKR and PAS to reaffirm the two fundamental principles which had been the secrets of the PR success since its establishment – strict adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which had formed the bedrock common principles of the three component parties in the coalition, and the operational principle of consensus regarding the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council as the highest policy-making body for PR.
“If we stay loyal to these two fundamental principles, I am confident that PR will be able to grow from strength to strength to fulfill the hopes of generations of Malaysians for change and Malaysia’s rendezvous with greatness, and take PR to Putrajaya to form the new Malaysian government in the 14th General Elections.
“This the time when wisdom and vision of the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat is sorely missed.
“There is no doubt that if the former PAS Mursyidul Am and former Kelantan Mentri Besar is alive today, he would not have allowed Pakatan Rakyat to face a life-and-death crisis, for he would have ensured that PAS continue to keep faith with both the Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia with the party’s ‘PAS for All’ agenda and spurned renewed efforts at forming UG (Unity Government) between PAS and UMNO.”
Unfortunately, my proposal for an Eight-Year “Save PR” Roadmap died a stillbirth as Hadi was totally engrossed with his plan to wipe out the progressive PAS leaders at the PAS Muktamar and to kill Pakatan Rakyat with the resolution at PAS Muktamar to sever PAS’ relations with DAP.
Thanks to the PAS Muktamar resolution on June 3, Pakatan Rakyat is dead and no more.
There is however great expectation among the people throughout the country awaiting the Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) movement to launch a new political party to rekindle new hopes of political change in Malaysia – hopes many feared had been buried with the death of Pakatan Rakyat on June 3, 2015.
A new coalition of Malaysian progressives is awaiting to be born and DAP will co-operate with all progressive political forces and parties like PKR and the new party which progressive PAS leaders have announced will be formed soon to form this new political coalition to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, socio-economic injustices and the collapse of good governance in the country.
In fact, I am hoping that there are also progressive political leaders in UMNO and Barisan Nasional who can transcend political party differences as the topmost priority in the nation today is undoubtedly to Save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, socio-economic injustices and the collapse of good governance.
Can we look forward to a Grand Get-Together of Progressive Political Leaders, regardless of whether in UMNO/Barisan Nasional, the new coalition to replace Pakatan Rakyat – whether Pakatan Rakyat 2.0, new Pakatan Rakyat, Harapan Rakyat or whatever the name finally decided upon – and progressive forces and individuals in Malaysia with the single great objective to “Save Malaysia” from becoming a failed state?
(Media Conference Statement at Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih after the 6th death anniversary tribute to Teoh Beng Hock on Sunday, 25th July 2015 at 12 noon)