The government has been urged by PKR to come out with an immediate response to Pakatan Rakyat's call for a dialogue to work out “a national consensus” on the main issues affecting the country and the people today.

It is Pakatan Rakyat that has made joint statements, with its component party leaders as well issuing statements with the consistent call for the dialogue, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

Saifuddin said the government has been “slow” to accept the suggestion, despite Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supporting the efforts of what they called “national reconciliation” in separate statements they made on Jan 27 and Feb 2.

The process towards a dialogue on national consensus has been slow as there is also slow reaction from the BN.

Actions that do not build harmony

This is despite the people witnessing racial sentiments... with chickens slaughtered to smear and ridicule political opponents in actions that do not help to build harmony, he said.

Najib had on Jan 27 outlined plans for national reconciliation through four key thrusts - social, political, government and international relations and at the same time, downplayed any talk of a unity government.

Najib also said he plans to discuss Pakatan's offer of reconciliation talks with the cabinet.

This was followed up by Zahid, who on Feb 2 expressed willingness for bilateral talks between Umno and PKR follwing Anwar's warning to the nation over the weekend that the country was heading towards pre-May 13 1969, racial tensions.