Keadilan will work towards achieving a masyarakat madani or civil society that will empower the citizens with democratic values, economic development and the sanctity of the social system, said Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

At the same time, the party will respect both DAP's and PAS' concept of 'Malaysian Malaysia' and Islamic state respectively, she added.

Azizah said Keadilan has subscribed to the civil society values based upon universal justice as its core struggle to counter the abuses of key government institutions and agencies such as Kemas, Petronas and the EPF by the ruling parties.

Azizah said this in her policy address at Keadilan's third annual general assembly (AGM) in Kemaman, Terengganu. The elections for party post will take place later in the day and results are only expected early tomorrow.

Azizah said the concept of empowerment as defined by (former Czech republic president)Vaclav Havel was an idea where the people have the right to decide their position in a society which values social justice.

"Havel's definition about 'the power of the powerless' explained to us how those who are considered powerless are actually those who are powerful enough to determine the direction and pattern of their society's development," she said.

"This means a civil society aims to reject the power domination by the elites in the country," she explained.

When asked by journalists later to elaborate on the party's stand on the Islamic state issue, Azizah maintained that the party respected the stand by PAS and DAP.

The Islamic state issue was the reason behind DAP's withdrawal from the Barisan Alternatif. DAP believed that its association with PAS in the opposition front resulted in the erosion of non-Muslim support for the party.

Keadilan dissapointed

However, during her address today, Azizah expressed Keadilan's disappointment on DAP's exit from BA.

"We're sad that the understanding which was built in BA was jeopardised with DAP's withdrawal from the coalition," she said.

She reiterated that Keadilan appreciated the contributions and sacrifices of DAP especially those of its party chairperson Lim Kit Siang and pledged to work closely with the party.

Apart from the Keadilan delegates, the opening ceremony of the AGM also saw the attendance of various leaders from other opposition parties.

Among them were, PAS vice-president and Dungun member of Parliament Mustapha Ali, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali and Lim Kit Siang.