Answering questions live on Google Hangout
last night, Anwar Ibrahim assured voters that Pakatan Rakyat would not
be the same as BN despite having defectors from the coalition.
PETALING
JAYA: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim last night attempted to allay
concerns that Pakatan Rakyat would turn out to be another Barisan
National when it wrests Putrajaya , saying that it was “immaterial” if
the current opposition leaders were former BN members.
He said what was important is that they (defectors) accepted a ‘new agenda and culture’.
He further explained that with an independent judiciary and “very
powerful” anti-corruption commission – which are reforms contained in
Pakatan’s Buku Jingga manifesto – the problem of wayward leaders trying
to “sabotage reform programme” would be naturally stopped.
The PKR de facto leader was answering questions on his maiden Google
Hangout session called “Borak Bersama Anwar” [Chat with Anwar] last
night, where one online user “Guna Naiker” asked: “Will PKR one day be
another Umno?.
Guna Naiker further said: “The reason I say this is 1. Many ex-Umno
members are in PKR, a bit worried here but with you and Saifudin
[Nasution]/ Rafizi [Ramli] / Tian Chua and others, I believe this can be
overcome but you need to address this soon.”
Chuckling at the question but admitting that it was “pertinent”,
Anwar replied:”To me, whether if you are ex-Umno, ex-NGO, ex-MCA… it is
immaterial.
“You must come in to accept a new culture in our political life, you
must accept the new agenda. You must accept the Buku Jingga.”
“These are clear policies which require transparency, a very powerful anti-corruption commission and independent judiciary.
“With these institutions in place, I frankly do not worry about
individuals who may have the pension and venture to embark on policies
that would be deemed to be dangerous or would sabotage the reform
programme.
“Because (an) institution, when it is independent and effective,
would not be selective… irrespective of whether you are Umno or not,” he
said.
He also added that an independent commission would not go after
whistleblowers, citing the case where PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli
was recently charged for revealing confidential bank documents while
highlighting the National Feedlot Centre controversy.
Former Finance Minister
Fears involving loyalties and trustworthiness of defectors who have
jumped ship have heightened in recent days following the resignations of
Sabah MPs Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing (Tuaran) and Lajim Ukin (Beaufort)
last month. Both have voiced their support of Pakatan’s agenda.
Anwar , who famously failed in the supposed Sept 16, 2008 mass
crossover to wrest Putrajaya, has been accused of enticing BN defectors
with speculations of more to happen as the 13th general election nears.
In last night’s live chat session, Anwar was also forced to defend
himself against allegations that he had acted differently during his
tenure as the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
Posting up tweets on micro-blogging site Twitter last night, vocal
Gerakan youth leader Tan Keng Liang had “wondered” why Anwar had not
proposed all same policies now being touted by Pakatan Rakyat, including
abolishing excise duties for cars, when he was in the government.
Anwar responded with a few examples of what he did before he was
booted from his government position in 1998, asking viewers to see
things “objectively” and “engage in healthy discourse”.
He urged Tan not to be a “lackey for Perkasa and Umno” and behave like a “typical Umno spokesperson.”
“During my tenure, I was Finance Minister, not [even] Housing
Minister, (but) I embarked on a massive programme for public housing.
“I mooted special schemes for low cost housing and alleviated
poverty,” he said adding that he had conducted programmes with [current
Selangor Menteri Besar] Khalid Ibrahim when he was in Permodalan
Nasional Berhad
Anwar said that together with Khalid, they had gone through all the districts.
“We gave awards to very very poor bumiputera RM5,000. Compared to the
Umno policy that enriches the cronies by the billions,” he added.
He also said that he had told the then Chief Justice that
independence of the judiciary did not mean ‘knowing the judge’ but
‘knowing the law’.
“Even in the judgment against Lim Guan Eng [who was jailed for
Sedition], I was asked (this) in London. I remember my answer… I said
this was a major predicament, because there is a wide perception in the
public that the decision by the judiciary acted at the behest of the
executive, or the political leaders,” he said.
Anwar also asked the public to look at the anti-corruption measures
that he introduced in 1997, which he claimed resulted in “half of the
Cabinet” appealing to [Dr] Mahathir [Mohamad] against the legislation.
Reminiscing about Raya
Meanwhile, Anwar was also asked several lighter questions, including
his experiences of Raya during his teenage years and whether he would
stay at Seri Perdana if he took over Putrajaya.
A more emotional Anwar then responded:”Wah, this is not only
sentimental, but sad. I lost my mom when I was in prison, she was so
endearing and Raya means everything… with your mom and dad around…new
dress… whole family there…hardly any place to sleep [in the house] but
it still gave me so much excitement.
“I can still recall every Raya. I dreamt of my mom last night… I
told [my wife Wan] Azizah [Ismail]…. Well life goes on, I have beautiful
children now.”
Asked about his experience going through Raya in the cell, Anwar
winced, saying:”Why must you remind me of that? It was dreadful. But it
was tough, because that [Raya] was an occasion when you are bound to be
with your family, but you can’t.
“After some years I was allowed to meet up with Azizah and the
children and my parents only, no one else. For about half an hour.
That’s it.”
“But always you must acknowledge, you must strengthen your resolve, your tenacity of purpose, and courage of conviction.
“It is a lingering experience but it’s not all that bad, but [you
learn] what justice is all about. If you can experience that (and)
suffered in the process, be mindful that no single rakyat, should endure
the same cruelty, injustice, afflicted against them.”
On the question of his accommodations if he became Prime Minister,
Anwar replied:”I never thought of it. I just feel comfortable in my
Segambut house. I don’t believe I will be comfortable in that ‘palace’.”
He also said that he was confident of taking over Putrajaya and
seeing Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak becoming the Opposition leader.
But in the event that he failed, Anwar said that he would probably
spend his time in retirement as a professor in a university and also be
active in welfare work.
Reaching out to youths
The Google Hangout session, which was moderated by PKR’s Sharifah
Shahidah, included seven panelists asking questions while other viewers
from Facebook, twitter and Google Plus also contributed. It was
broadcast on Youtube live.
PKR had proudly announced several days ago that Anwar was the first
Malaysian politician to appear at such an event and also “first
Southeast Asian politician to be featured on a Google Hangout”.
Other prominent world politicians who have been on a Google Hangout
include US president Barrack Obama and Australia’s Prime Minister Julia
Gillard.
The session is seen as Anwar’s attempt at engaging and expanding his
social media circle appeal to more technologically savvy youths, which
make up almost a quarter of the 2,270,002 voters.
His strategists had promised that he would be able to answer “uncomfortable questions”.
A check with the social media monitoring site socialbakers.com shows
that Najib is ahead in the social media sphere with 1,165,409 “fans” on
Facebook and 826,128 followers on Twitter; while Anwar’s 367,866 “fans”
on Facebook and 184,481 following him on Twitter.
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