Pakatan Rakyat Youth will launch a nationwide Road to KL programme beginning Tuesday as a run-up to the mammoth Jan 12 gathering at the iconic and historic Merdeka Stadium.

The programme will kick-off from the south, north, east coast and central area as a run-up to next Saturday's main event.

NONE PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin ( right ) also told Malaysiakini that it had also set- up a team comprising the secretaries-general of PAS, PKR and DAP to meet with the Stadium Merdeka management on Monday to speed up approval of Pakatan's application to use the stadium that day.

"This is in line with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's call for public gatherings to be held in stadiums and we want to ensure that the stadium issues the approval and that this is done transparently without any problems," he said.

"We hope the stadium corporation will give its approval, as Pakatan has already submitted its application some time ago," he said.

Earlier Shamsul, along with PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan and Dapsy chief Teo Kok Seong held a press conference to announce this.

It was reported that Pakatan had submitted the application last month in the name of a national laureate.

Youth congress on Feb 2

Shamsul said the southern region kick-off will be held in Kluang and Parit Raja, Muar on Tuesday, while up north it will be in Selama, Perak and on Thursday, at Taman Harmony, Gombak for the central area.

He said that on the eve of the Jan 12 countdown, Pakatan Youth will gather at the Dataran Anak Muda, in Petaling Jaya Selatan.

NONE "The gathering at Petaling Jaya Selatan will be different from the mammoth gathering to be held in Kampung Baru. The event at Dataran Anak Muda is for young people," he said.

Shamsul added that Pakatan Youth will also announce its policy for youth at its national congress on Feb 2.

He said at present it is getting feedback from the various respondents on suggestions to be considered for the policy.

"We will make a detailed announcement that day on what Pakatan will be offering the youth if it wins the general election. At least five or more policies will be unveiled then," he said.

Asked to comment on issues highlighted by the press on the Amanat Haji Hadi controversy, Shamsul said it is a mockery for the Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to renege on the earlier offer to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Last week, he said Rais announced that the ministry will allow a government television station be used as an avenue for Abdul Hadi to explain the issue, however, less than week later, he withdrew the offer.

"How can you continue to level accusations at Abdul Hadi and not give him an opportunity to explain. This concerns his explanation on faith and it mocks the democracy being practised in Malaysia as first you are allowed to explain and then later you rescind the offer," he said.