PRESS STATEMENT
BA MUST LOOK AHEAD
The Lunas by-election is
over. PRM is happy with the result and congratulates Saifuddin, keADILan party and the
Alternative Front for the success achieved. It can be said that this is truly a success
for the people, especially those who look forward to change.
Saifuddin Nasution bin
Ismail must become the representative and spokesperson for all people, irrespective of
race or creed. During the election campaign there were many allegations made by the BN
monopolised media that the BA neglected the Indians. They seem to forget that during that
last general elections a year ago, the BA fielded 9 Indian candidates, compared to only
7 fielded by the BN.
With Saifuddin’s victory, the BA succeeded in achieving two
main objectives set out in the by-election. Firstly, to deny the two-thirds BN majority in
the Kedah Legislative council. Secondly, to send a clear message to Dr Mahathir that the
people already have had enough of him and reject the BN policies which constantly promote
the interests of a sprinkling few close to him.
The BA faced some problem over
the selection of its candidate for Lunas. The BN leaders, by manipulating the media they
control, were able to exploit fully this proFFFFblem for their own advantage. Now that
victory has been achieved, all the component parties of BA must discuss seriously an
acceptable mechanism for determining candidates for future by-elections and also
allocations of seats for the forthcoming general elections.
In fact, if the BA is
really serious about replacing the BN during the next one or two elections, its component
parties must be able to project an image of strong unity among themselves. The BA already
has a Common Manifesto entitled “Towards a Just Malaysia”. It has set up a common
Secretariat and 20 Bureaus, which are already functioning. There is already the beginning
of close cooperation between the different parties at some state levels
Now the BA
should begin as soon as possible to discuss and agree upon such questions as a common name
and a common symbol. The BA must look and move forward.
Dr Syed Husin Ali
PRM
President
30th November 2000
