PERMATANG PAUH: Let people decide, says Anwar


GEORGE TOWN (Aug 22, 2008): Let the people decide the outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-election and let Barisan Nasional MPs decide whether they want to cross over to PKR or not, said PKR's de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is one of the contenders for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, said there is still a possibility of him winning the seat despite seemingly confident remarks by the BN and BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.

"We should just let the people decide on this ultimately," he said.

As for BN's claims that he is lying about being able to get 31 MPs to cross over to form a new government come Sept 16, Anwar said the decision lies with the MPs.

"They should let the MPs decide on whether they want to cross over or not when the time comes."

He said it is a fact that the BN have publicly said it was impossible for the Oppostion coalition to deny them a two-third majority in the March elections.

"They said it was impossible for the government to fall and were even confident that they'd wrest back Kelantan," he said in a short press conference after visiting the Sama Gagah wet market on Friday morning.

"In fact, we have proven them wrong and we can prove them wrong this time around too."

He said the BN showed it was bankrupt of issues when it also raised the controversial Sungai Nyior toll booth issue and pointed out that Anwar was the one to approve the construction of the toll plaza and collection of toll when he was deputy prime minister and finance minister.

"That was 15 years ago and I refuse to answer to that," he said, adding that the issue was not even related to the PKR's campaign for unity.

Anwar also complimented Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for his practice of using his own car instead of the state-provided car when he came over to provide his support for the campaign.

"I am pleased that the state government is not using government facilities to help in Pakatan Rakyat's campaign."

Opalyn Mok
The Sun
22/08/08

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