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.