GEORGE TOWN, SEPT 23 – Penang Chief Minister who also DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng hold a press conference today at Komtar here said criticism of the newly-formed Pakatan Harapan and of the haste of its formation was intended to undermine the new coalition. Also present were YB Dato’ Mohd. Rashid Hasnon, YB Prof. Dr. P. Ramasamy, YB Chow Kon Yeow, YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, YB Dato’ Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, YB Phee Boon Poh and YB Dr. Afif Bahrdin.
He said he would not entertain the criticism over the alliance which was formed yesterday, or speculation published in the mainstream media which he was pinpointing to The New Straits Times (NST). He said this is to subvert and undermine the Pakatan Harapan on the first day it is established,” said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“Pakatan Harapan would be different because its component members while DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and PKR will stood on a firm platform championing justice, sincerity, democracy, mutual trust and anti-corruption,” he responded to critics who asked how Pakatan Harapan would be any different from its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat, which ended after PAS cut ties with DAP over the hudud issue during he announced that the Penang government was now known as a Pakatan Harapan government.
“We will continue to fight corruption, regardless of friend or foe. We are united on this. We will also hold on to our common manifesto, which must be practised and implemented when it is agreed upon by component parties. We cannot fail to deliver or fail to fulfil our promises,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lim also said that PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also will remained candidate for prime minister as should the opposition to win the federal government due to he was a leader which are ready to make sacrifices for the nation and its people due to Anwar was also a clean leader.
“It was customary to set up the pact, followed by its presidential council and then work out its framework and coalition policies. They had an old framework from Pakatan Rakyat days which would be further refined and improved, after consulting all parties including non-governmental organisations,” said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
“We have to work fast as the election may come any time, since we are experiencing issues like with the economy due to it is not right to say we were hasty. Usually this is how we do it. Meanwhile, the director of the Registrar of Societies had told them the registration would be settled as soon as possible,” said Mat Sabu when Amanah would be formally recognised as a new political party.
Yesterday, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang (DAP Parliamentary Leader) and Mohamad and opposition leaders of the three parties agreed to set up a new opposition coalition, after the dissolution of PR.
