By P Prem Kumar
KUALU LUMPUR
With Malaysian authorities preparing for mass anti-government demonstrations this weekend, opposition members have fanned the flames of dissent by offering to discuss a new government with the ruling coalition, on the proviso that Prime Minister Najib Razak -- who many Malaysians see as a liability -- be removed from power.
In a joint statement, 13 parliamentarians from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), People's Justice Party (PKR) and New Hope Movement said the core agenda of the new government, without Razak, would be political reforms with one of the first tasks being the release of jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Former opposition leader Ibrahim is currently serving five-years in prison on sodomy charges.
"We are prepared to discuss the proposals by members of parliament from BN [Barisan Nasional] to form a new majority to replace the government of Razak with political reforms as the core agenda of the new government," the statement said.
Several United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and BN grassroots leaders have expressed concerns about the future of the government going forward, and said it might be the right time to collaborate with opposition parties.
"The release of Ibrahim and all other prisoners of conscience should be one of the first tasks to be performed by the new majority. All political persecutions should also be rescinded," the statement said.
Many Malaysians from all walks of life are demanding the resignation of Razak over allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), and a multi-million-dollar donation made into his personal account.
1MDB is $11 billion in debt, and Razak is chair of its advisory board.
In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that investigators probing the debt-laden fund had discovered that nearly 2.6 billion Ringgit ($700 million) was deposited into Najib's private bank account.
Although Malaysia's anti-graft agency has verified that the funds were a donation from the Middle East, on Aug. 3 it said it would ask Najib to explain why the money was placed into his private account.
The parliamentarians' joint statement said the opposition would also take part in the National Consultative Council on Political Funding if the issue of the “donation” was addressed upfront.
"The other condition was that the scope of the council be expanded to electoral reforms and independence granted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Election Commission (EC)."
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Friday, a Malaysian political analyst said that the ruling coalition BN and the Razak-led UMNO are likely to reject the proposal due to fear of losing its grip on power.
"Malaysia is a country which has never seen a different administration than BN since independence," said Dr. Baharuddin Aziz, adding that a unity government is still a new idea to most people, still less power being taken from UMNO's hands.
"I don't think UMNO, as the big brother in BN, will agree to such a unity government proposal."
Aziz said that the 13 opposition parliamentarians mooting the idea are seen to be talking from their own perspective, not necessarily from their parties'.
He underlined that Ibrahim's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar and leaders of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) had not signed the statement.
"The unity government looks promising but I don't think it will happen," he said.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities blocked access to the website of a civil society group that has called for massive anti-government demonstrations in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and two other cities this weekend.
Authorities have rejected the application by Bersih for a permit to protest. During its last big rally in 2012, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters.
The Star Online said the military could intervene if the protests get out of hand.
The pro-democracy group's webpage, www.bersih.org, was not accessible in Malaysia on Friday, a day after the government said it would block sites that spread dissent and encourage people to join the two-day rally.
Kuala Lumpur's police chief, Comm. Md Tajuddin Md Isa, has warned that any violence during the march would be dealt with sternly.
“Let me be very clear. Don’t go overboard or resort to violence," he said, according to the Star online.
“We will not tolerate instigators who inflame situations and make it worse. They will be dealt with sternly.”
