The Reformasi of 1998 represented the people’s anger and dissatisfaction against the tyranny and oppression of UMNO under the leadership of Dr Mahathir. Faced with the financial crisis of 1997, Dr Mahathir’s administration started to turn against the people, betraying their trust and attempted to bulldoze a series of measures calculated to channel the rakyat’s money in order to bail out and salvage the financial empires of the corporate elite, their families and cronies. The stumbling block to these efforts was Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. An elaborate scheme was hatched to have him removed and the rest is history. Dato’ Seri Anwar was condemned to prison on trumped-up charges by UMNO.
After six years, he was acquitted and released. With KEADILAN and the cooperation of PAS and the DAP we gained the momentous victory of March 2008. History was created. The cooperation and goodwill of the Pakatan Rakyat members grew from strength to strength unified by the common aspiration of establishing a Mighty Malaysia.
When it dawned on them the people are with the Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO began to work on another conspiracy which was essentially a rehash of the old one. The upshot was that once again, DSAI became subjected to a vicious campaign of lies, slander and character assassination. In this regard, the verdict on 9th January 2012 will be of great significance not just because it will directly impact Dato’ Seri Anwar and his family but it will have a bearing on the course of our history and the fates of the people of Malaysia.
These charges are politically motivated and malicious. The UMNO-BN leadership are hell bent on preventing Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim from becoming the next Prime Minister. They believe that their plot will divide the people and ruin the chances of Pakatan Rakyat getting victory in the coming 13th general elections. But they are wrong. This insidious conspiracy will not derail the Pakatan Rakyat’s plan and our resolve to form the next Federal Government.
UMNO be warned: you may plot and you may scheme but you shall never weaken our resolve to tear down the walls of oppression and tyranny. Pakatan Rakyat has unanimously decided that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be the 7th Prime Minister.
Whatever may be outcome of 9th January the leadership of KEADILAN together with the Pakatan Rakyat and the people of Malaysia will not shirk from the duty entrusted to lead the nation to a better future.
I therefore pledge that the leadership of KEADILAN will forge ahead to champion to the people’s agenda. The question of leadership is determined via the process of consensus within the party. Since its establishment, the party leadership has been an “evolutionary process,” and not a revolutionary process.”
We shall remain steadfast in this noble cause and it is our responsibility to carry out all the policies, strategies and agenda enshrined in the Malaysian Economic Agenda, PR Common Policy and the Orange Book.
I call on the people of Malaysia to remain focussed on the objective to bring reform and change for this great nation of ours. Exercise your democratic rights to vote conscientiously in the coming general elections. This will be a victory for the people, for justice and for freedom and democracy. Such a victory will augur well for harmony, peace and prosperity for the entire nation.
God willing, together with the leadership and the people, I will be present to show my support for Dato’ Seri Anwar on the 9th January 2012.
Mohamed Azmin Ali
Deputy President
