The 38% increase in native votes in favour of the opposition in Sarawak is a 'clear' indication of change, says the PKR chief.
KOTA KINABALU: PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has a gut feeling that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership will call for a snap general election in July this year.
“With all these issues – religion, sex video, my court case and abduction threat to my daughter Nurul Izzah – it is a clear message that the election is coming very soon,” he said.
The former finance minister urged party leaders to work hard and update their respective election machinery in preparation for the 13th general election.
“We must get ourselves ready in facing the coming general election which is expected to be held in July this year,” Anwar told a news conference after meeting with top party leaders from Sabah at its headquarters in Penampang near here yesterday.
Anwar arrived here on Saturday for a series of public talks and meet-the-people sessions in Pitas, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud and here.
After meeting with Sabah PKR leaders, Anwar left for Sandakan.
He said that it was the responsibility of PKR under Pakatan Rakyat to fight for the people in getting back their ancestral land that had been taken away from them.
Anwar also touched on the on-going discussion among the opposition parties, particularly between Sabah PKR and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), as part of their preparations in taking on the ruling BN in the coming general election.
“We’re hoping the negotiation will go on smoothly as long as the decision does not breach the PKR constitution,” he said.
Changing voter trend
On the recent Sarawak state election, Anwar said the outcome of the election indicated a wind of change in favour of the opposition.
He said the 38% increase in votes from the natives in certain areas in Sarawak was a clear message that the voting trend had changed and was now favouring the opposition.
He attributed this to the corrupt BN’s politics.
Anwar also pointed out the need to review the existing Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 to allow Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Terengganu to control 20% of their own oil and gas.
“We want this 20% for these four states. We want to change the Act and every single contract must be transparent and open to all Malaysians; the decision is not with the prime minister alone.”
Anwar said it was clear that under the existing law only the prime minister has the right to approve any contract in Petronas and the company did not even have to report to the finance minister.
Also present were PKR Kota Kinabalu divisional chief Christina Liew and Darell Leiking, who heads the Penampang division
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