Pakatan has ‘people power’

Pakatan Rakyat's confidence at taking over Putrajaya despite its claims of electoral fraud hinges on the three million new voters. 

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat’s confidence of wresting Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election hinges on the three million new voters, whom it claims are “ready” to vote in a new government.

Said Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong of DAP: “The new voters are ready to see the formation of a new federal government. There are enough Malaysians who are ready to vote in a new government.”

Liew said had the electoral system been clean before, “we would have come into power long time ago.”

Liew was responding to MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s question on Pakatan’s confidence, which he directed at his opponent DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng during a two-hour debate yesterday.

Chua seemed puzzled at Pakatan’s confidence at forming the next federal government when the opposition coalition had constantly been harping on a tainted electoral roll and a likely rigged election.

PKR vice-president N Surendran, responding to Chua’s bewilderment, said “overwhelming public support will push Pakatan to Putrajaya”.

PAS central committee member and Shah Alam parliamentarian Khalid Samad is also of the view that the increasing support for Pakatan will “overcome” any hanky-panky by BN.

“Support for us is sufficient to overcome the elements of cheating by BN.

“BN is trying to cheat us of victory but we believe in the people’s trust and support,” said Khalid.

He pointed out that the people were now more aware of BN’s role in corrupting the electoral rolls and warned the ruling coalition to be wary of the people’s wrath.

“Please accept the principles of democracy and don’t try to manipulate the roll to allow phantom voters into the system,” said Khalid.

Meanwhile, Bersih 3.0 co-chairman S Ambiga opined that a larger voter turnout would mitigate some of the fraud that is happening in the electoral system.

In line with this, the electoral reform watchdog had already launched a “Jom 100 campaign” in January this year to encourage a 100% voter turnout.