SHAH ALAM, 30 Nov 2008: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the plan to take over the federal government was still in the pipeline.
PKR’s top leaders stood up for the party song
“God willing, we will be going to Putrajaya (to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) very soon,” Anwar, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor, said during his winding-up speech at the party’s national congress which ended today.
Departing from his earlier rhetoric where he claimed he had enough Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament (MPs) who were willing to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat, Anwar said today that the takeover plan was not about having the right number of MPs.
He also said it was not about meeting a deadline even though earlier, he had promised a new federal government by 16 Sept, which did not occur.
Instead, Anwar said in his speech that taking over government was “about the people”.
“I, in the name of God, trust the wisdom of my people,” he said.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also told delegates at the three-day conference not to give up on their struggle and the hope of forming the new government.
“I know some of you call Anwar a liar because 16 September did not happen. We have fought for 10 years, why can’t you be a little more patient?” she said.
On the party’s stand on restoring the rulers’ immunity, Anwar said although the country practised parliamentary democracy, the sovereignty of the rulers must be preserved.
Native land rights
Deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali proposed for the Pakatan Rakyat state governments of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan to return the Orang Asli’s right to land.
“If we can do this, it will be a breeze for us in Sarawak because the people there will know that we can fulfill our promises,” he said in his winding-up speech.
At the party’s congress, Anwar had announced that Sarawak would be Pakatan Rakyat’s new battleground. Sarawak’s next state elections are due in 2011.
Syed Husin said land had always been one of the main issues in Sarawak, especially among the Dayak community, who make up the majority of the population.
Sarawak delegates at the congress had also raised the issue of native customary land rights. 
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