Oppositions form Pakatan Rakyat

Leaders of DAP, PKR and PAS met in Petaling Jaya today and took the logical next step of the March 8 political tsunami – proposing the establishment of new front of the three political parties to be tentatively known as PAKATAN RAKYAT. A joint statement issued after the meeting reads:

Statement by the Leadership of KeADILan, DAP and PAS

The leaders of KeADILan, DAP and PAS met today in furtherance of the meeting held on the 18th of March 2008.
Today’s meeting was attended by, among others, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Lim Kit Siang, YB Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang and YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
In today’s meeting, we have proposed to consolidate the cooperation between the three parties under the name “PAKATAN RAKYAT.” This name has been proposed pending confirmation by the respective parties.
Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race, as enshrined in the Constitution.
With the results of the recent elections, the state governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak and Selangor will be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments. The policies of these governments will be conducted in accordance with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat.
To further mutual understanding regarding such policies, a convention of all Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives of Parliament and State Assemblies will be held the 27th of April, 2008.
We have developed and strengthened the structure of Pakatan Rakyat by creating under the Leadership Council, consisting of the leaders of the three parties, a Joint Secretariat consisting of three leaders each from each of the three parties. This Joint Secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the Pakatan Rakyat for ratification by the Leadership Council.

YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
YB Lim Kit Siang
YB Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang

In 1999, the trio came together to form Barisan Alternatif, or Alternative Front, but disagreements then between PAS and DAP on the issue of the Islamic state led to DAP pull out some two years later.
Looks like Anwar have made a good move to merge the PKR-DAP-PAS as the official coalition which will be known as Pakatan Rakyat.

But will debates on the Islamic state, once a main political ideology of PAS- resurface as a divisive force?

So Pakatan Rakyat's message to voters is very clear: We made a mistake, we learned and now we're back as a stronger force.

On the contrary, BN's message to voters is quite different: We lost and now we still do not know who is boss.

Stay tuned!