The Permatang Pauh by-election has become the focus of the whole country and the world because it is not a contest between Anwar Ibrahim and Ariff Shah. It is not just a by-election about who should represent Permatang Pauh.
It is a battle for the future of Malaysia – of 27 million Malaysians and future generations.
The 58,459 voters of Permatang Pauh have a historic mission to perform and three things to accomplish on polling day on August 26:
– to speak up on behalf of 27 million Malaysians to reaffirm in the most convincing and decisive manner possible the historic result of the March 8 general election for political and economic change and reforms;
– to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of the deep and widespread national disappointment at his failure to fulfil his latest promise that he has finally heard the message of Malaysians in the March 8 “political tsunami” and his new undertaking to implement the many stillborn reform promises as he has nothing to show for the past five months whether over police reforms as establishing the IPCMC, judicial reforms or an all-out war against corruption; and
– to endorse Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister when a Pakatan Rakyat federal government is formed.
(Gist of speeches at Permatang Pauh by-election ceramahs in Sungai Lembu and Permatang Pasir on Nomination night)