No deadline to take over Government

Source TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is now saying he will not give any firm deadline to take over the Federal Government.

“It is not an issue of deadlines any more. It was on the Sept 16, when we were ready. (But) who could have anticipated the Prime Minister would refuse to hold an emergency Parliament session when we have the numbers?” he told reporters at the Jalan Duta court complex yesterday after the hearing of his sodomy case.

He added this was the first time in the history of a democratic country a Prime Minister refused to see the Opposition Leader.

Anwar said a letter was sent to the King last week to inform him on the current situation and the measures taken by Pakatan for the power transfer.

However, he denied the letter was sent to seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong.

“The issue of (seeking) audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong has not arisen because we still want all the (legal) processes to be done, to exhaust all available avenues including the possibility of the meeting with the Prime Minister,” he said.

Anwar also appealed to the public to be patient and understand the delay in the takeover as Pakatan “does not want to transgress the constitutional rules.”

On speculation claiming his Government line-up would not consist of Muslim majority, Anwar said it was a dirty tactic by Umno and Barisan Nasional to incite fear among the Malays.

He also challenged those who called him a liar for not being able to meet the previous deadline to “test it in the proper constitutional and legal manner”.