Kuala Lumpur: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is the rightful Prime Minister of Malaysia, DAP has told US National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
A statement issued by Anwar’s press office said today that DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng told Rice this morning about last May’s general election being marred by irregularities.
“Despite the irregularities, the Pakatan Rakyat pact managed to garner 52% of the popular votes, which means Anwar should have been installed as prime minister,” the statement quoted Lim as saying.
Anwar and PAS Secretary-General Mustafa Ali was also at the meeting with Rice.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, was reported to have told Rice that millions rallied against the outcome of the election.
“Although Pakatan did not concede to a defeat, we decided to move forward with the business of governing to avoid civil strife,” he was quoted as saying.
At the meeting Anwar spoke about the public’s reservations over the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), specifically its effects on the local agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors, the statement said.
“He also spoke about Malaysia’s potential of being exposed to costly litigation,” it added.
“Rice noted that there is a need to facilitate a broader level of discussion on TPPA in the interest of transparency and to ensure everyone understands it.”
Mustafa reportedly told Rice that Putrajaya had resorted to punishing Pakatan administered states by withholding development funds.
“He also said the federalism concept in Malaysia had failed as state governments continue to rely on Putrajaya for funds to finance its programmes,” the statement said.
Wanted meeting with Obama
Anwar had previously expressed his disappointment that President Obama would not be seeing him during the latter’s official three-day visit to Malaysia which ended this morning.
He had blamed the Najib administration of pressuring Obama not to meet the PKR leader.
In a Thai newspaper interview today, Anwar had said that the US ambassador had explained that Obama’s Asian visit doesn’t include meeting opposition leaders.
“I can’t complain because the US has consistently been in support of the democratic process, rule of law, and has taken up my case. In that sense, I appreciate it.
“But I find it difficult to accept that the Malaysian government can use the trade agreement [TPP] and business to pressure the president of the United States. That doesn’t go well for those fighting for freedom and reform,” Anwar was reported as saying in The Nation.
To a question on what he would have said to Obama if there had been a meeting, Anwar said he would have asked the US president to “be consistent with the American foreign policy in supporting reform agenda, transparent governments, democratic reforms”.
“They have sent battalion after battalion of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq and also drones in the war on terrorism, and here they can’t be muted when the Umno regime is using the court to deny my basic rights and those [rights] of other political leaders,” he had told the daily.
Source Free Malaysia Today
America Anwar Ibrahim barack obama DAP Lim Guan Eng politic prime minister