Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on
Friday, 1st August 2008:
"No PAS-UMNO coalition government"
- Hadi's statement welcome
I welcome the statement by PAS
persident, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, that PAS will not co-operate to form a
coalition government with UMNO or Barisan National and that PAS will
remain loyal to the Pakatan Rakyat.
Hadi Awang’s statement,
‘We reject any form of
cooperation with Umno and the Barisan on the formation of a
government whether at the federal or state level.
‘I want to reiterate our stand to remain with Pakatan Rakyat and
play an active role in line with our joint aspirations to seek a
change in government.
As such, the question ot offers from Umno to form a joint government
at all levels does not arise.’
is most encouraging and augurs well
for the future of the Pakatan Rakyat. It would be in the interests of
the component parties of the Pakatan Rakyat for PAS to speak through its
president on issues relating to the Pakatan Rakyat instead of other
personalities in PAS at times publicly contradicting him.
After the March 8 general elections, there is, no doubt, that the people
want a two-party system and the Pakatan Rakyat has contributed towards
that reality. Every effort should be made to ensure that the Pakatan
Rakyat makes further gains in the next general elections so that it can
go beyond just capturing 5 states. The objective of the Pakatan Rakyat
should be after the next general elections, to form the government at
federal level and at the same time increase its rule in more than five
states.
Of course, in the next few weeks, the Pakatan Rakyat should endeavour to
ensure that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim decisively wins the Permatang Pauh
by-election so as to pave the way for him to become the Opposition
Leader in the Dewan Rakyat.
The DAP will do all it can to ensure a strong opposition in the form of
the Pakatan Rakyat. It is in the public interest that the people be
given a choice in a two-party system. The opposition should be united
and put up a strong front against the Barisan Nasional. In the end, it
is sincerity and sense of purpose between the component parties in the
Pakatan Rakyat that will prevail in the public interest.
*
Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit
Gelugor
http://dapmalaysia.org