Perak hunger strike: 4,500 signatures, more salvos ahead

Pakatan Rakyat ended its three-day hunger strike to protest Prime Minister Najib Razak’s power grab in Perak, with Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin promising more and harder salvos ahead.

The hunger strike began on Tuesday amid chaos and harsh police action that culminated in 21 arrests including seven assemblymen and one member of Parliament.

But despite the time wasted in the police lock-up and reorganising themselves afer the police left their preparations in tatters, Pakatan still managed to collect 4,500 signatures during the 72-hour protest.

They plan more signature campaigns to petition the Sultan to dissolve the state legislative assembly and call for fresh election.

The Pakatan has promised the people of Perak to battle on for their democratic right to choose their own leaders after Najib launched an unpopular coup d’etat on Feb 6.

Although four months have passed, more than 90 percent of Perakians have rejected Najib’s chosen chief minister Zambry Kadir and are clamouring for a snap election.

Suara Keadilan appends below the comments of Pakatan leaders who attended the closing ceremony of the three-day hunger strike, the first-ever launched by the coalition on such a large scale.

Nizar Jamaluddin, Pakatan Menteri Besar of Perak
Unlike the other freedom fighters in the world, we have only fasted for three days. This shows that Pakatan’s fight is only at the starting point.

We must continue for the good of our future generation. Barisan Nasional tried to turn the people against us by saying that hunger strikes are against our religion but they are not right. If through fasting, one is able to create awareness of the tyranny and injustices in the world, then it is highly acceptable.

Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister
Although BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir is occupying the state head seat, he knows that the people are not acknowledging him as the legitimate Menteri Besar.

PKR will win two-thirds majority if the state election is called and they are afraid as they know they are in the wrong. Although the police and state BN machinery are backing them, we are not afraid as the truth is with us.

Nga Kor Ming, MP for Taiping and assemblyman for Pantai Remis
We also collected 4,500 signatures from the public during this 72-hour period, showing their support for the dissolution of the state assembly. Democracy will once again be alive in Perak with the support of Perakians.

Although leaders from MCA and Gerakan have supported the call for fresh state elections in Perak, Umno prefers to remain silent on the issue while MIC is sleeping on the matter.

Two outstanding people had participated in the hunger strike - one is a blind contractor Hah Kuang Yoong aged 60 who went blind about five years ago, and the youngest child of PAS state treasurer Dr Khairuddin Abdul Malik, Fatin Sakinah aged nine.
SK
29/05/09

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