PR's plan to take over govt still on

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) plan to take over the federal government through the defection of MPs is still very much on the table but the coalition remains non-committal on a new deadline following the Sept 16 non-event.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PR was in "no hurry to take over" the federal government as its immediate action, in view of the economic downturn, was to engage with government leaders on prudent measures to be taken to weather the storm.

He said PR was exploring all constitutional avenues for a smooth and orderly transition of power after its proposed meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the takeover was denied.

"I'm sure you are also aware the government tends to make fun of this takeover exercise," Anwar told reporters after unveiling the Recommendations by PR for 2009 Malaysia Budget at parliament yesterday.

According to the opposition leader, PR had to respect the legal procedures of the country but reiterated that the power transition between the premier and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would not narrow PR's chance of taking over the federal government.

"To suggest that Najib has managed to consolidate his position is an exaggeration," Anwar stressed.

He pointed out that the deputy premier might have strengthen his position within Umno but not among BN component parties, adding that there were serious allegations that Najib had to answer to the rakyat.

On whether PR had a new takeover deadline, Anwar replied: "I've said enough of the subject (takeover)."

However, he said PR leaders were still working on the takeover plan and the possibility of a new deadline being set, but stressed that "there must be an element of surprise."

PR managed to deny BN's a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat in the March 8 general election. BN currently has 138 MPs in the 222-seat lower house after two SAPP MPs turned independent recently.

Anwar was speaking to reporters after a Bloomberg report yesterday, citing Anwar that he was running out of options to unseat the government.

"I'm not saying we have no options left, but I'm saying it's getting to be much more difficult,'' Anwar told Bloomberg in an interview on Wednesday. However, Anwar said his coalition remained confident it could woo the 30 coalition lawmakers it needed to form a majority.

The Edge
25/10/08