In the past two days, the predominant feeling of ordinary Malaysians of reason, common sense and good will is one of pain and shame at the injustice and outrage of the spectacle of a nationalist and patriot like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had devoted 47 years of his life to the struggle for freedom, justice, human dignity and national unity, should be sentenced to a five-year jail term, returning to prison for a third incarceration in his life.

Ask Malaysians who are the top political leaders, past and present, they think should be languishing in jail for five years, many different names would be mentioned, but Anwar’s name will not be among them.

Anwar is now 67 years old. After the five-year jail sentence, he will be disqualified from standing for any elective office for another five years, knocking him out of the electoral arena till he is 77 years old.

This is cruel, heartless, repressive and oppressive, and only People’s Power can cut short Anwar’s present travail if the UMNO/BN federal government can be toppled in the 14th General Elections in three years’ time.

Malaysians nationwide should transform their pain and sorrow into strength and energy to knock out the Umno/BN Federal Government in the 14th General Elections, as this seems to be the only way to save Anwar from the decade of darkness of his third incarceration and disenfranchisement of his civil rights to vote and to stand for elections.

I call on all Malaysians throughout the country to demonstrate their support, sympathy and solidarity (the 3Ss) with Anwar and to leave no stone unturned to secure his early release through a change of Federal Government in Putrajaya in the 14GE in three years’ time.

The greatest tribute we can give to Anwar’s struggle and sacrifices in his 47 years of upholding justice, freedom, human dignity and national unity is for Pakatan Rakyat to be more united and successful than in the past.

We cannot and should not hide the fact that PR is afflicted with our greatest crisis since our formation seven years ago, even more challenging than the first crisis PR faced in September 2011, which nearly led to the end of PR.

PR can only sustain and succeed if we adhere to the two fundamental principles which had been the secrets of the PR success in its first six years – strict adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which had formed the bedrock common principles of the three component parties in the coalition, and the operational principle of consensus regarding the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council as the highest policy-making body for PR.

If we stay loyal to these two fundamental principles, PR will be able to grow from strength to strength to fulfill the hopes of generations of Malaysians for change and Malaysia’s rendezvous with greatness.

For this reason, I propose a eight-year commitment by the three PR component parties to continue to uphold these two fundamental principles of PR common policy framework and the operational consensus mechanism, and to put aside whatever differences we have for the next eight years, as we had done in the first six years.

The eight years is derived from three years to the 14GE from now and the five years after the 14GE, as PR will be making a commitment to Malaysians as to the policies we are committed to implement if PR achieve power in Putrajaya after the 14GE.

If the PR component parties of DAP, PKR and PAS are prepared to make this eight-year commitment to forge a common struggle, and to put aside all issues not in consonance with the PR Common Policy Framework and the consensus principle, we would have found the formula to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat is poised for a serious bid for Putrajaya to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians for change for the better for the people and nation.

(Media Conference Statement (2) when visiting Pasar Pagi Simpang Kuala in Kota Darul Aman, Alor Setar together with the local State Assemblyman, Teoh Boon Kok, the Kedah DAP State Chairman and SA for Derga, Tan Kok Yew, and Vice Chairman of DAP Malaysia Dream Committee, Dr. Tajuddin Shafee)