DSAI SAYS TO FORM GOVERNMENT AT SUITABLE TIME - Malaysiakini

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim refused to rule out the possibility of a no-confidence vote against the government in Parliament when it reconvenes tomorrow.
"Well, wait for tomorrow," the Opposition Leader said when asked if he had planned any surprises for tomorrow.

The opposition had attempted to table such a motion in July but it was denied by the Speaker.
Speaking at his open house at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kg Baru today, he also clarified that he has not given any new specific date for the takeover of federal government.

"I did not give a date for takeover. I said I will continue to take necessary steps. At a suitable time, we will witness the change," he said when quizzed about reports that he had set Dec 8, Hari Raya Haji, as a new deadline in a speech in Kelantan.

In the immediate aftermath of the March 8 general elections, the former deputy prime minister had insisted that the takeover would happen by Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

He has since continued to claim that Pakatan Rakyat has the support of enough Barisan National MPs who will join its 81 MPs to gain majority control of Parliament.

After the Sabah Progressive Party pulled out of Barisan Nasional, the governing coalition lost two MPs and PR now needs to add 29 of Barisan Nasional's 138 MPs to topple the government.
The Permatang Pauh MP also brushed away the insistence by leaders of the dominant Umno that his claims were merely attempts to destabilise the governing coalition.

"I don't care about the accusations and claims of Umno leaders. It has happened many times.
"They said March 8 was impossible, to increase the majority in Permatang Pauh was also impossible.

"So we have proved that the people want change. If MPs and the people want change, no power can stop this," he declared.

He elaborated that takeover plans would "respect the constitution and the legal and parliamentary process."

"We have to accept the possibility of a change by a vote of no-confidence or MPs refusing to support the government," he said, giving the example of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who recently resigned as de facto Law Minister.

"He resigned as a matter of principle against the use of the Internal Security Act. What if he decides to join PR? Is that unlawful? Is that unconstitutional? Is that unethical?"

Anwar added that he believes more MPs will "realise that political stability is paramount and cannot be handled by Umno... ethnic relations have worsened and we need to change... not through arrogance of power and racist remarks.

"We have to deal with the economy. It has been mismanaged and they are in a state of denial and refuse to accept the economy is shattered," he claimed and stated that these were adequate reasons and rationale for PR to garner more support. - TMI