A total of 146 youths comprising activists from NGOs, political parties and student organisations today called for a new opposition coalition following the demise of Pakatan Rakyat.

The group, dubbed Demi Malaysia, hopes for an opposition coalition that is consistent in championing the rakyat's interest and is capable of being a viable political alternative.

"The people are frustrated with the ongoing conflicts among the opposition parties due to their egocentric behaviour," the group's representative Mandeep Singh told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) in the capital.

Demi Malaysia outlined a set of principles for a new coalition which includes functioning as a singular entity with a common policy framework.

Mandeep ( photo ) added that the new coalition should take precedence over respective member groups.

"This new coalition should include opposition political parties, NGOs and the young generation in the decision-making process to ensure openness and transparency," he said.

“Voices of the young should be heard by the opposition parties as they are the third force in this country who will make up a large number of voters in the upcoming 14th general election,” added another Demi Malaysia spokesperson Shukri Mokhtar.

14-day timeline set

Demi Malaysia set a timeline of 14 days for the opposition and other interested parties to hold a discussion on the future of the new coalition.

The 146 signatories calling for the new coalition did so based on their personal capacity.

The call for a new coalition came following DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang's ( photo ) declaration last month that Pakatan was dead.

This was in response to PAS, under its new conservatives-dominated leadership, passing a motion at its muktamar proposing the severing of ties with DAP.

DAP had insisted that there cannot be a Pakatan without all three of its members together.

BARATHI SELVAM is an intern with Malaysiakini .