PENANTI: Despite Barisan Nasional (BN) not running in Penanti, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night blasted its attempt to divide the opposition pact through racial tactics, saying it reduced the ruling coalition's 1 Malaysia to nothing but cheap hollow slogans.
Speaking to some 2,500 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters at a ceramah here, the de facto PKR leader said the BN had again trumped up the racial card, calling him a traitor to the Malays by supporting a Chinese DAP govermment in Penang.
Anwar claimed this was being done through the BN-controlled mass media.
"They say I am a traitor to the Malays, that I suppport a Chinese
leader (Penang DAP chief minister Lim Guan Eng).
"But let me say this, when BN controlled Penang, Umno had made Gerakan leader Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon as chief minister. Is Tsu Koon's name Ahmad Tsu Koon?," charged Anwar.
Anwar then pointed to the constitutional crisis in Perak claiming that BN had also tried to use race as a way to undermine the leadership of ousted mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.
"BN had played the race game by saying Nizar had given land to the Chinese community there. I would say this in front of all the Malays present here today, I applaud and defend Nizar's move.
"There is nothing wrong with helping and we must help those in need regardless of their race. This shows Pakatan do not look to help based on race. But what about the BN? It's OK for them to give land to rich Chinese?" Anwar told the crowd.
Voters however are getting smarter, remarked the PKR leader, and can no longer be fooled by the racial tactics of the ruling coalition.
Speaking of smart voters, Anwar claimed although BN want to make it appear it had nothing to do with the Penanti by-election, the people know the ruling coalition were attempting to influence the outcome of the by-election through 'proxies.'
"Despite not contesting, BN through their media have attacked Pakatan and given (indirect) support to the independent candidates. Don't ever be fooled to think that the Penanti by-election is not a battle between Pakatan and BN because it is," he said.
Last night was the first campaigning day for the Penanti by-election after the OKR candidate Dr Mansor Othman and three independent candidates qualified the nomination process earlier in the day. One independent candidate was disqualified.
The presence of heavyweights like Anwar and other Pakatan leaders including Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng indicates that the opposition is going all out to win the Penanti seat and do not intend to be complacent despite BN's absence.
MI
24/05/09
Speaking to some 2,500 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters at a ceramah here, the de facto PKR leader said the BN had again trumped up the racial card, calling him a traitor to the Malays by supporting a Chinese DAP govermment in Penang.
Anwar claimed this was being done through the BN-controlled mass media.
"They say I am a traitor to the Malays, that I suppport a Chinese
leader (Penang DAP chief minister Lim Guan Eng).
"But let me say this, when BN controlled Penang, Umno had made Gerakan leader Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon as chief minister. Is Tsu Koon's name Ahmad Tsu Koon?," charged Anwar.
Anwar then pointed to the constitutional crisis in Perak claiming that BN had also tried to use race as a way to undermine the leadership of ousted mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.
"BN had played the race game by saying Nizar had given land to the Chinese community there. I would say this in front of all the Malays present here today, I applaud and defend Nizar's move.
"There is nothing wrong with helping and we must help those in need regardless of their race. This shows Pakatan do not look to help based on race. But what about the BN? It's OK for them to give land to rich Chinese?" Anwar told the crowd.
Voters however are getting smarter, remarked the PKR leader, and can no longer be fooled by the racial tactics of the ruling coalition.
Speaking of smart voters, Anwar claimed although BN want to make it appear it had nothing to do with the Penanti by-election, the people know the ruling coalition were attempting to influence the outcome of the by-election through 'proxies.'
"Despite not contesting, BN through their media have attacked Pakatan and given (indirect) support to the independent candidates. Don't ever be fooled to think that the Penanti by-election is not a battle between Pakatan and BN because it is," he said.
Last night was the first campaigning day for the Penanti by-election after the OKR candidate Dr Mansor Othman and three independent candidates qualified the nomination process earlier in the day. One independent candidate was disqualified.
The presence of heavyweights like Anwar and other Pakatan leaders including Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng indicates that the opposition is going all out to win the Penanti seat and do not intend to be complacent despite BN's absence.
MI
24/05/09
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