Pakatan tells members to toe the line
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 14, 2008

The newly-minted Pakatan Rakyat has ordered its members - consisting of parties with diverging policies - to stop airing views that are contradictory to those agreed by the opposition coalition in the wake of public acrimony among its members. MCPX

“All leaders and members of Pakatan Rakyat have been directed to desist from expressing views that contradict those that have been mutually agreed upon by Pakatan Rakyat,” said a joint statement issued yesterday by the coalition leaders.

“Pakatan Rakyat is not the forum nor is it the place for any group or individual to champion personal ideologies or that of its component parties.

“Although there have been individuals who express personal views that are differ from the agreed agenda of Pakatan Rakyat, those views are clearly personal. They do not represent that of any of the parties in Pakatan Rakyat.”

The statement, signed by PKR leaders Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and Anwar Ibrahim, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, added that Pakatan is committed to “create a prosperous society irrespective of ethnicity, religion and culture and uphold human rights”.

DAP, PAS at loggerheads

Last week, leaders of the predominantly Chinese DAP and Islamic party PAS crossed swords over the issue of the Islamic state.

A number of PAS leaders have argued that the party should pursue its Islamic state agenda, with DAP reacting with horror over the proposal.

In the bid to restore calm, Pakatan leaders have said that the Islamic state agenda was not part of the opposition coalition platform.

“The policies of Pakatan Rakyat are centred on objectives that have been agreed upon and accepted by the leaders of the three parties that are PKR, DAP and PAS.

“Among these are to develop this country on the basis of justice, create opportunities for all citizens to enjoy national prosperity and to accord priority to those who are poor and marginalised.”

No one party forms Pakatan backbone

In addition, Kelantan deputy mentri besar Ahmad Yaakob had also argued that his party PAS should be the linchpin of Pakatan.

But in the joint statement, Pakatan leaders said no one party forms the backbone of the opposition coalition.

“In fact, the strength of Pakatan Rakyat is based on principles of equality and spirit of cooperation among leaders of Pakatan Rakyat in keeping with the mandate that has been given to us by the people during the 12th general elections.”

Pakatan also said that it would soon announce a “general declaration of principles” mutually agreed by the three opposition parties.

“These will also be adopted by all Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament when Parliament is in session.”

Copyright © 1999-2007 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news//81361