HERO'S welcome for Anwar, COWARD'S thumbs-down for Najib!

As expected, Prime Minister Najib Razak failed to turned up at a forum organized by the Bersih movement for free and fair polls aimed to enable both sides of the political divide to explain to the people their manifestos ahead of the coming general election.

However, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim came as scheduled, receiving a rousing welcome from the crowd that packed the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Wednesday night.

"Of course we are disappointed. We had hoped he would send someone," Bersih co-chair Ambiga Sreenevasan told Malaysia Chronicle on the sidelines of the forum.

"He missed the chance, he should have come," Samad Said, Bersih's other co-chair, told Malaysia Chronicle, referring to Najib's snubbing the opportunity to clarify and push the Umno-BN's manifesto to voters.

Public must be given the chance to evaluate the pros and cons

Anwar, who held the floor with aplomb, spoke for nearly an hour spoke on the need to stop the "corruption rot" in the country and how badly Malaysia needed to raise its competitiveness level to regain its attractiveness to investors.

He took several questions from the moderator, focusing on illicit outflows and how it was damaging the economy and widening the gap between the have and have-nots. He also vowed to abolish the PTPTN student loans and to support "all schools". It is part of the Pakatan's manifesto to provide free education up to university level for all citizens.

Malaysia will be holding its 13th general election on May 5. There is great anticipation that GE13 - touted to be the "dirtiest election ever" - will also be a landmark ballot that might see the country's first ever regime change.

Both Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat and Najib's Umno-BN have already revealed their manifestos, with the PR first by nearly 2 months and the Umno-BN accused of copying from their rivals' 'People's Hope' manifesto. The Umno-BN's plan was unveiled 'live' on national TV while the Opposition was offered only a 10-minute slot to present theirs to the people.

Both sides have also accused each other of populist measures that would bankrupt the nation if implemented and Bersih had organised the event in the hope of prodding both sides into clarifying their plans for the country so as to enable voters to evaluate the pros and cons of the contesting coalitions.

"I guess we are not surprised that he has chosen not come. But most important, even if he chooses to snub the people, he must make sure that Umno-BN implements its manifesto properly and without corruption," PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli,who also spoke at the event, told Malaysia Chronicle.

Fear of debate or fear of Anwar

Indeed, the 59-year-old Najib is notorious for his fear of public debates especially with nemesis Anwar, who is known for his oratorical skills. This is why Bersih called the event a "Common Conversation" about the 2 manifestos rather than a "Debate" on the plans.

Moderating tonight's program was Bersih steering committee member Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, who had earlier promised the show would go on regardless of whether Najib turned up. Most of the Bersih's steering committee was also present including Maria Chin Abdullah.

"Since Najib claimed that this country should the best democracy in the world, he must prove that he is willing to debate as is practised in democratic countries," Harakahdaily had reported Farouk, who also heads Islamic Renaissance Front, as saying.



Malaysia Chronicle