Reforms should include Anwar’s release, says Pakatan in call to set aside differences

Pakatan Harapan's presidential council today said it is willing to set aside political differences to uphold public interest and invited groups to draw up a joint campaign for institutional reforms. In a joint statement, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said the reforms should be holistic and include the release of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. They also said the reforms should not merely be about changing the prime minister while at the same time retaining the existing system. "Pakatan Harapan considers Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's stand that the country needs institutional reforms and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to quit Umno as a welcome and positive development. "The statements from both Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir show the tendency that they have realised the danger of centralising power in the hands of a prime minister. "This stand is somewhat similar to Pakatan Harapan's policy in fighting for overall and holistic institutional reforms," said the statement. The coalition also welcomed all parties to formulate a joint campaign which would be driven by integrated effort involving all groups and the people. "To that end, we hope to call for negotiations between all parties who wish to participate in the effort to save the country," the statement said, adding that details on the matter would be announced on March 7. Muhyiddin, recently suspended as the Umno deputy president, said he would continue speaking out for greater institutional reforms. The Pagoh MP said among the reforms were to limit the prime minister's power in his capacity as adviser to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, and inject greater independence into the country's enforcement authorities. Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said he was quitting Umno because the party now only looked after Najib's interests. – March 1, 2016.]]>