LEMBAH PANTAI: Malaysians have the best opportunity in the upcoming general election to vote in a new federal government and ensure the much needed political reforms are carried out in the country.
“If we (the opposition) fail to come to power, then Malaysians will lose the opportunity to initiate reforms.
“It will be a lost opportunity for the people. This will happen if Pakatan fails to take over the federal administration,” PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar told FMT in an interview.
She said Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition pact made up of PKR, DAP and PAS, was serious in tackling cronyism and nepotism currently prevalent under the BN rule.
She also condemned personalities like Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for fanning racial politics and escalating tensions in the country.
“The fabric of the nation will be torn apart day by day by their racist remarks. This will leave a mark on the society when one advocates or supports the racist group.
“The government of the day should not support any agenda. You are suppose to be the guardian of this nation,” she added.
Putting the system in order
She said failure by the people to elect Pakatan Rakyat to power would result in a massive missed opportunity for the opposition pact to serve the rakyat.
“My biggest concern is that if we lose this time around, the role to serve will be lost for an entire generation,” she added.
Nurul said if Pakatan Rakyat was given an opportunity to serve, it would do its best to put the system in order for future generations.
However, Pakatan Rakyat’s concern now is that the much needed policies for the people will not be implemented should they fail to come to power.
“Malaysia will lose a guardianship through a principal centered leadership,” said Nurul.
In 2008, the opposition front put up a strong show winning 80 seats out of the 222 Dewan Rakyat seats. This put paid to BN’s long held two third majority in Parliament.
At the elections five years ago, Pakatan Rakyat also won five state assemblies – Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Perak went back to the BN after three state assemblymen crossed over and declared themselves as independents in favour of the Barisan Nasional.
Then, Nurul completed a giant-killing feat, defeating former Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil by a 2,800 vote majority in the face off for the Lembah Pantai constituency.
This time around the ‘Puteri Reformasi PKR’ is likely to slug it out with the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin in the same seat.
Nominations for the country 13th General Election would be held on April 20 while polling has been fixed for May 5.
