PETALING JAYA, 14 May 2009: DAP parliamentary chief and advisor Lim Kit Siang said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will meet today to decide whether to negotiate with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on ending the Perak impasse.
“We cannot let the Perak constitutional crisis continue, and the time has come for Najib and the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to sit down with PR,” he told reporters after a public forum last night.
He said in today’s meeting PR would discuss the issues to tackle with Najib, including Perak and the independence of the judiciary and civil service.
He was responding to Najib‘s indications that the BN was willing to negotiate with PR on a possible solution to Perak.
However, Lim declined to elaborate on any details of the possible meeting or concrete solutions.
“The Perak crisis affects all Malaysians, and will determine whether we go forward or become a failed state,” he said.
Lim was speaking at a forum organised by Kampung Tunku DAP state assemblyperson Lau Weng San, From 513 to 1Malaysia: the future of Malaysian nation-building.
According to Lau, the forum was meant to “enable a group of Malaysians from different backgrounds and eras to explore a Malaysian future that will become our common destiny”.
The forum saw a 3,000-strong, multiracial crowd filling the Petaling Jaya City Council Civic Hall.
The marathon three-hour event featured speeches by PR heavyweights who stressed on the ongoing Perak crisis.
The PR leaders were Lim, Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, embattled Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin; DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim; and PAS MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad.
Nizar being greeted at the forum while Anwar looks on
Other panelists included Bar Council chairperson Ragunath Kesavan; former Court of Appeal judge Datuk NH Chan; Umno veteran and journalist Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad; law professor Dr Azmi Sharom and economic adviser to the Selangor government Tricia Yeoh. 
PM says
It is really, really heartening and certainly encouraging to see multi-racial participants at this type of public forum. If anything, it shows that there are right-minded rakyat who care for the country.
James says
There is nothing to negotiate, just call for an election to let the people decide. It is as simple as that – why should the BN govt be so afraid of losing the election if they think that whatever they have done is for the people? Surely the people would elect them into power again. Using the courts, police and civil services to retain their power is clearly not a democratic govt. It is an international disgrace.
Raguel says
Do you think BN is sincere to cooperate with the opposition? Too many cases of action in haste, can’t wait to grab power, blatant injustice – too numerous incidents, what secret agenda BN has? They want to share the cake with you? Dream on.
K S Ong says
Just a common sense approach, assuming PM is laying down conditions, even though he is not in favour of others, that there should be no fresh elections: what about having just the three seats to be contested? After all, the three are history in politics and not being eligible for the next five years means nothing really. BN can have the choice of fielding others against PR’s candidates.
It is possible to govern with a small majority. The mess was created by Najib and he should be responsible enough to sort it out, not necessarily on his terms only.
KFTANG says
The obvious and practical solution to the Perak imbroglio is the dissolution of the State Assembly. Return the mandate to the people of Perak for a vote. It is the court of the people which decides. Nobody else. So any discussion should center on the dissolution of the State Assembly leading to fresh state elections.
beeyong says
There is only one possible solution. Go for state elections. If PR fails us on this, then PR is no better than them. Go. Go. Go. State elections – the only way out.
tsunami says
Why negotiate? Obviously the rakyat want PR to rule and govern. The election result shows. The issue is the frogs. The stupid frogs who can be bought with money and the corrupt whose case was never being heard in the kangaroo court. Or can I say “badminton” court.
People’s power PR.
chong says
Don’t trust the hypocrites.
siburpat says
Well, if PR and BN can sit down and discuss the “Perak issue” to resolve it, why not? After all, politics is really about serving the interests of the people.
Parliamentary democracy should about giving the power to the people to decide on what is best for themselves by voting in the right candidates and party to represent their views and needs. Last year they spoke and both parties should abide by those decisions which were:
(a) In Perak, PR is to govern in peace while BN acts as the loyal opposition to provide checks and balances; and
(b) In Malaysia, BN is to govern in peace while PR acts as the loyal opposition to provide checks and balances.
Both BN and PR have to stop the endless campaigning as both have jobs to govern as well as to provide checks and balances. Any politician who goes on campaigning to overthrow each other in the manner of Perak and by Anwar’s attempt to form the federal government on 16 Sept 2008 should be locked in Kamunting like what Lee Kuan Yew did to save Singapore from being torn apart. Maybe we should also consider to prevent all the future frogs as well by amending the Constitution?
It is vital that we must remain competitive to survive in this modern era and to achieve this we must ensure a lower political cost (vis a vis corruption). We have to stop politics as a business venture and an easy way to become “millionaires” because it lowers our dignity as politicians as politics becomes a very dirty business, but very rewarding too for those who wield power but slowly and surely will destroy our beloved country.
We are facing a very severe economic challenge and every parliamentarian in the 12th General Election should pull up their socks and serve Malaysia first and foremost. Sacrifices of personal or party agenda have to be put aside because if Malaysia sinks (let us hope not), everyone will suffer especially the poor and the underprivileged.
So it is timely to sit down and talk, not to shout and rant. Good luck to all concerned.