Jostling For Pole Position?

Not a good sign for the People's Pact, or is it People's Alliance? It seems that there are independent and separate ideas from each quarters on whom supposedly to be the Head Honcho, the Big Kahuna, the Chief of all Chief. This is not good, not a good start, indeed. Who will the PM then, if and when, Pakatan Rakyat is to become the government of Malaysia? Haji Hadi? Anwar Ibrahim? Wan Azizah? Lim Kit Siang? ...Too many question marks! I am sorry to say, this is not convincing enough.

Bernama has the report today:

Proposal For PAS To Become Backbone Of `Pakatan Rakyat'

ALOR STAR, April 4 (Bernama) -- The Kedah and Terengganu PAS Youth movements Friday supported the proposal by Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakub that PAS becomes the backbone of the `Pakatan Rakyat' or People's Coalition to realise the objective of forming an Islamic state.National PAS Youth vice-head Azman Shapawi Abdul Rani said PAS should be the backbone of the coalition as the party had been in existence much longer than Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP.In addition, the majority of the people in the country were Muslims and many of them had become leaders currently, he told Bernama, here Friday.Based on these factors, he said PAS was more qualified to lead the coalition compared to the PKR which was a very young party, he said.Azman, who is also the Terengganu PAS Youth head, said the proposal would be discussed at the national level at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur soon.

Asked whether the proposal would result in a dispute within the coalition, especially the DAP which had always been against the formation of an Islamic state, Azman said the matter would be studied thoroughly and discussed among the three component parties of the Pakatan Rakyat."It will not be a problem and will be discussed. What is important is to have a meeting (between the Pakatan Rakyat component parties) and discuss the matter in more detail," he said.Meanwhile, Kedah PAS Youth head Musaddak Ahmad said he was confident of PAS' capability in leading the coalition by highlighting the Islamic concept in national administration.In fact, the party was not only holding the Menteri Besar's post in Kelantan, but in Kedah and Perak too, and this proved that the party was capable of providing the leadership."As such, PAS should become the backbone of the coalition to realise the objective of forming an Islamic state," he said.

Musaddak said, however, the objective of forming an Islamic state could only be achieved if everyone understood and accepted the actual concept of Islam which had never belittled or marginalised any ethnic group because Islam was a religion that protected the interest of all mankind.-- BERNAMA

Updated

Another story from BERNAMA, isn't it getting too darn obvious? It is not just the pole position it seems, 2nd Grid is also in contention.

Karpal Wants Amendment To Provide For Deputy Opposition Leader

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) -- DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants the relevant standing orders of the Dewan Rakyat to be amended to provide for a deputy opposition leader.In a statement here Friday, Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor member of parliament, said that in view of the Opposition now having 82 seats in Parliament, it was necessary to have a deputy opposition leader.

He said Standing Order 4A(1) of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat provided for the appointment of only one opposition leader."On the other hand, Standing Order 4A(2) provides for a leader and deputy leader of the government. Having 82 members of parliament in the opposition is unprecedented."It is imperative, therefore that the standing orders be amended to provide for a deputy leader of the opposition, and with regard to the DAP having 28 seats in Parliament, (it) should be Ipoh Timor Member of Parliament, Lim Kit Siang," added Karpal.

He urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure that the Standing Orders be amended as soon as possible to provide for a deputy oppposition leader.Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has been appointed parliamentary opposition leader, a post hold by Lim in the last parliament before the March 8 election.-- BERNAMA