Malaysia's oppositions unite against Mahathir

Malaysia's oppositions unite against Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's two most powerful opposition parties said on Sunday they would set aside key differences and cooperate in an election strategy aimed at unseating Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Some 2,000 opposition politicians, academics and rights activists attended the "Justice For All" conference in Kuala Lumpur, calling on voters to end Mahathir's 18-year rule in upcoming general elections. Elections must be called by April 2000.

The fundamentalist Islamic party, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, known as PAS, said it would back the wife of ousted dissident leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is expected to challenge Mahathir for his parliamentary seat, in northern Kubang Pasu.

If Mahathir lost his seat he would forfeit his standing as prime minister.

PAS' support for Azizah Ismail, Anwar's wife, marks a political first. The party envisions an Islamic state and has never before allowed women in its political circles.

"We are willing to extend our cooperation to Wan Azizah and will support her if she stands in Kubang Pasu or whichever constituency," Haji Mahfuz Omar, a deputy chief of PAS told The Associated Press. "Wan" is a Malay term of respect.

The wife of Anwar said on Sunday that she had yet to decide whether to contest the next general election, which must be held by April 2000.

"I have not made up my mind yet. At the moment, my priority is to get my husband out," Azizah Ismail told reporters after closing a conference organized by the Malaysian People's Justice Movement (GERAK), a coalition of opposition parties and rights groups.

Azizah, who has quietly taken up leadership of her husband's "reformasi" (reform) campaign, will make a trip to Mahathir's own constituency in the northern state of Kedah on Thursday.

There has been speculation that she might run against Mahathir there.

Azizah last week visited Sabah state on Borneo island, which is due to hold state elections soon, and then went to Terengganu state on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, where thousands gathered to welcome her.

The PAS' move comes shortly after the 25-party Coalition for People's Democracy, or Gagasan, said they were devising a plan to run for elections together to wrest power from Mahathir's coalition.

Gagasan's two most powerful parties, however, were seen as the biggest obstacle to unity, as they straddle opposite ends of the electoral spectrum.

PAS has a strong following among ethnic Malay Muslims, while the Democratic Action Party enjoys the support of the Chinese minority. And while PAS supports an Islamic state, DAP insists Malaysia should be secular.

PAS President Fadzil Noor said on Sunday that his party's differences with DAP could be resolved.

"What is important is to defeat Barisan National," he said, referring to Mahathir's ruling coalition.

Lim Kit Siang, the head of DAP, said PAS' religious bent still posed an obstacle, but that it was a good sign that the parties were working together for the first time.

"Until recently PAS and DAP leaders have avoided each other like the plague. We have however moved out of our respective cocoons and are prepared to work for the good of all Malaysians," Lim said.

Mahathir has faced unprecedented demands to resign since he fired Anwar, his popular deputy, in September, saying his longtime protege was morally unfit to lead.

Anwar, now standing trial on sex and corruption charges, calls his ouster politically motivated and denies the charges. His ouster triggered massive street rallies and calls for greater democracy.