PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today claimed that BN members are working on the inside to help the opposition to topple the ruling coalition.

In his opening speech at Pakatan Rakyat's last convention before the next general election, Mohamad said that this is on top of former BN supporters who are approaching Pakatan to offer their assistance.

pakatan convention 140112 02 "Police and army personnel and those formerly of the forces, former BN cabinet ministers and even those still working with the Umno-BN government and hold posts in the party have met us to ask what they can do to help topple the current government.

"We are certain that this will happen (as) BN component members are working on the inside to ensure that victory belongs to Pakatan," he told to applause from an audience of 2,000 in Alor Setar.

He added that civil society including the student movement too are working closely with Pakatan Rakyat, even if they refuse to be party members, such as the Anything But Umno (ABU) movement that is gaining momentum.

The leader fondly known as Mat Sabu added that talk of who will become the first Pakatan prime minister if PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is jailed too reflects national sentiments.

“It means people believe that the next PM will come from Pakatan. They don't think the next PM is Najib, Muhyiddin and absolutely not Rosmah,” he said referring to the current premier, his deputy and the PM's wife.

Invoking Gandhi's spirit

Mohamad, whose party recently sacked former Selangor commissioner Hasan Ali for going against party interests, also called on the party to “strengthen their discipline...to support joint policies”.

“We need to strengthen our unity and discipline...like the residents of Madinah (during the time of Prophet Muhammad), who respected the Madinah Charter, not betrayed but upheld it,” he said.

“In modern times, it is fundamental human rights which need to be defended and fought for together.”

pakatan convention alor setar nik aziz nik mat and azmin ali His views were echoed by his PKR counterpart Azmin Ali ( right in photo ), who said that Anwar's acquittal does not mean that the judiciary is completely free.

“Cases like the VK Lingam (judge fixing) case is still fresh in people's memories...but we are certain there is a handful of judges with conscience who will uphold justice. We are thankful that Anwar is free, but the people are not ,” he said.

Azmin said Jan 9, the date of the acquittal, coincides with the anniversary of Indian freedom icon Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa.

He said that Gandhi's experience in apartheid South Africa had strengthened his resolve to push for the independence of his nation.

“The spirit of Jan 9 will be a source of inspiration for Malaysians to free themselves from the extremist party that is Umno-BN,” he said.

A plural civil service

Earlier in his opening speech, DAP vice chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said that BN has “no interest” in strengthening the national institutions including the civil service, as it takes advantage of these weaknesses.

pakatan convention alor setar jingga tawaran “The civil service must be reviewed and respected, but not shrunk. I hope we can restore the civil service so it can reflect the plurality of our society, be free from politics, be neutral and competitive internationally,” he said.

The convention at the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Suka Menanti Stadium is the coalition's third congress.

Pakatan will also launch the Jingga Deal - Pakatan's policy proposals to improve four areas: Felda, the civil service, federalism and the abolition of monopolistic practices.

VIDEO | 10.52 mins