Always in the lead for PR, Anwar mediating PR coalition members. - Picture by Jack Ooi
PENANTI, July 5 — After weeks of blood-letting, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) switched to damage control today and claimed an end to hostilities in the Kedah and Penang state coalitions.
After a private meeting between PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kedah PAS Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak this morning, the latter told a press conference here that the DAP was still very much part of his government.
He claimed that no official letter informing him of the “secession” by DAP from the PAS-led Kedah government had been tendered, meaning that the DAP’s lone representative, Lee Guan Aik, was still very much part of Azizan’s government.
Lee quit after the local council demolished an illegal pig abattoir in Alor Star and both the DAP and PAS have been publicly having a go at each other, openly accusing each party of playing the race card.
The absence of any DAP leaders at the press conference here today suggests, however, that wounds are still raw in the aftermath of the open quarrel between PAS and DAP.
However, Azizan appeared adamant in portraying a united PR in Kedah, and pledged that his government was now looking for an alternative location for the abattoir.
This is the second time in just a month that the PR alliance has been forced into an uncomfortable defensive position and having to plaster the cracks.
From the pig abattoir demolition issue in Kedah to the Kg Buah Pala drama and power tussle in Penang, to the recent fresh unity talks approach made by PAS Youth to its Umno counterparts, the ideological differences in the opposition coalition has been openly exposed.
Speaking on this, Anwar urged PR supporters to remain calm and not to blame Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his administration as he was currently seeking a “formula for a win-win situation”.
As for the Penang DAP-PKR fallout following the sacking of PKR’s Johari Kasim as a councillor by Lim’s government, Anwar said PR’s leadership would try to solve this matter amicably.
Johari was sacked after he and ten other PKR councillors boycotted the swearing in ceremony of the new Seberang Prai Municipal Council head, a civil servant, a position Johari lamented should have been given to politicians such as himself.
Anwar said “since the appointment of a councillor is a political one, we will have to solve it through political means”.
Today’s press conference once again demonstrated how Anwar has again been put to the test as the mediator and the Parliamentary opposition leader again proved to be the sole anchor binding the alliance together.
How long Anwar can play that role is becoming more uncertain.
The PKR leader is facing his second sodomy trial this week and could face jail time again if the charges stick.
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