PKR Congress 2005 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor has called for a "meaningful collaboration" among opposition parties to create a stronger alternative front but said the collaboration was not meant to destroy the ruling Barisan Nasional.

"Our struggle is not to destroy any political party. We have no intention to destroy Umno and its allies. Let them continue to exist as one of the options for the people and not the master of the people and the nation," he told the wing's annual congress in Kuala Lumpur today.

"We all have a right to this country. Let us all come out from the narrow cocoon of our own struggle and build a more mature cooperation so that the people can view us as a credible alternative front that is able to govern this country effectively and justly," he added.

PKR - born of the merger of Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia in 2003 - is a member of the alternative front, with PAS. Another opposition party, DAP, left the coalition in 2001 over PAS' intention to establish an Islamic state.

True reform needed

In his address at the congress, Ezam also argued that the situation in the country at present is worse than a year ago as pledges to reform had turned out to be empty promises.

"We should make the people aware that they have been deceived by the new administration of the country that claimed to be pro-reform. This is the reason we are calling for true reform. The reform that we dream of is not merely political slogans to get votes.

"The reform that we fight for is based on the objective of upholding the rights of the people, the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law in order for the country to be administer in a just manner," he said.

Mohd Ezam, a vocal critic on corruption, said those who have kept quiet in order to observe the anti-corruption pledges made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad now realised that the pledges were mere 'political gimmick'.

"Only a few small fish were caught for corruption, small fish that were already at the tail-end of their political career while in the ocean, the sharks are still roaming wild," he said.

"The highly-publicised prosecutions carried out in the early days of the new administration are all silent now without any news, with the heated enthusiasm for integrity is now "cold and hard".

"They are now not only squeezed by the old, corrupt people, but also made to face new ones. If this development continues, the country is bound to destruct itself," the PKR Youth chief warned.

Two-party system

The youth leader also criticised the Pak Lah Administration for failing to amend legislations that are clearly anti-reform and repressive in nature, or to give the Anti-Corruption Agency more power.

He also claimed that the control of the media and censorship has reached its "worst level".

Citing the Royal Police Commission and National Integrity Institute reports which were "not used at all", he said that "a reform-government cannot continue by only establishing commissions and investigating committee but not giving effect to the change of administration."

In order to carry out real political reform, Ezam said it is high time for Malaysia to adopt a two-party system to ensure a healthy democracy. Under the system, no party will become "too powerful, greedy and arrogant", he added.

"With two party system, the administration of the government will become more professional and more efficient because they will serve the people and not leaders of the ruling party, he said, adding that enforcement agencies will also not be manipulated by interested parties.

In her speech, PKR Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh said leaders who are oppressive and autocratic as well as their cronies must be ousted.

"The way we have agreed to take over power is through democratic and legal means. Leaders who defend justice and the people must be given the mandate to rule," she said, adding that the party's new political agenda must now be put into practice.

She also condemned the recent infamous 'nude ear-squat' scandal in the police lock-up, but expressed sympathy to the policewoman who ordered the ear-squat in the video-clip as Fuziah said she is also a "victim of fear" because the latter did not question the order given by her superior.

The party's main body will meet tomorrow and Saturday. Party's adviser Anwar Ibrahim is expected to address the congress tomorrow.