The Pakatan Rakyat leadership has pledged to keep the momentum of the Bersih 2.0 rally going by taking the initiative in pushing for electoral reform to the rural constituencies.

"We are aware that Bersih's impact was limited to the urban areas and today, it was proposed that we maintain the impetus by going to the rural areas to tell them what Bersih is all about," DAP's assistant national publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching ( left ) said.

bershi 1blackmalaysia pc 050509 teo nie ching This was among the top agenda items discussed at Pakatan's leadership retreat held in Petaling Jaya today to amass support for the 13th general election, which must be held in 2013.

The day-long retreat was held to, among others, synergise media relations among the three coalition partners, PAS, PKR and DAP.

Tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9, demanding an overhaul to the electoral system on grounds that the process is not transparent and is often rigged.

The rally was led by Bersih 2.0, a coalition of more than 60 NGOs for clean and fair elections.

The government came down hard on both the organisers and supporters of the rally prior to the event, and has been accused of endorsing heavy-handed police action during the rally.

"However, this decision will also be talked over with (Bersih 2.0 chairperson) Ambiga (Sreenevasan)," said Teo, who is also the Serdang MP.

The retreat, in which 30 representatives from the tri-party coalition took part, also met to iron out the kinks in their coalition especially in tackling “controversial issues”.

Leaders agreed that recent squabbles following the PAS-led Kedah government’s move in attempting to impose a ban on entertainment outlets during the whole of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in August, had left them open to attacks from political opponents.

“DAP and PAS have both expressed our concerns today and whichever way this issue is tackled, one way or another the opponents will find ways to create a rift,” said a leader, who requested for anonymity.

Approached earlier today at the closed-door retreat, PAS Shah Alam head Khalid Samad said the leaders were “frank” in their ongoing meeting.

DAP’s publicity chief Tony Pua added that the meeting was fruitful as it allowed the leaders to “trash out” issues, without further elaboration on what they were.

 

States told to start seat talks

Teo added that the state-level Pakatan leadership has been given the nod to start negotiating seat allocations in gearing up for the next general election.

Although Pua had earlier commented that the meeting did not touch on seat allocations, he also said it was only agreed to allow the states to suggest their top guns.

“However, we have advised those not chosen from going to the media to air their frustration and then try to sabotage the party from within,” she said.

Pua added that the selection process will be left to the states and only when they cannot reach a conclusion will it be brought to the top leadership.

Perkasa: Police action on rally preventive in nature