Pakatan cancels meeting, plays down latest rift
An embattled Pakatan Rakyat (PR) cancelled a scheduled leadership meeting today as it tried to play down the latest rift between the DAP and the PAS-led Kedah state government over a demolished pig abattoir.
The 1pm meeting in Parliament was to discuss its long-delayed shadow committees but the Kedah DAP's move to quit the state coalition was expected to top the agenda, a week after PAS toed the line to reject unity government talks with political rivals Umno.
PR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters in Parliament today that he has heard views from both squabbling parties and described the issue as a small matter.
“The mentri besar has told me that he has given space and options on where the slaughter house could be build. I believe that we can discuss to solve this problem,” said Anwar, who is also de facto PKR leader.
The parliamentary opposition leader also said PR leaders will able to overcome this obstacle, noting that Barisan Nasional (BN) too is no different in handling such issues.
“I had been in Barisan a long time and there were many disagreement but it did not make headlines,” he said.
Anwar has had his hands full to keep the electoral pact together after its stunning win 16 months ago in Election 2008, where it captured a further four states and 82 seats in the 222-seat Parliament, denying BN its customary two-thirds majority.
