Here are photos which I managed to take during last Saturday’s historical first-ever Pakatan Rakyat Convention and launch our common policy framework. The ability for us to have a Pakatan convention shows the willingness of all the 3 parties’ leadership and members to come together.
It is not easy to get all 3 parties to to sit down togeteher to put common platform. The MPs in charge of this platform had worked on this document for many days and weeks. So all the work has come to this momentous occasion.
Held at Auditorium MBSA in Shah Alam. 1500 delegates in total. 500 each from DAP, PKR and PAS.
Hadi Awang, Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng raise their hands together in solidarity. The lady in blue is Wan Azizah.
Seated on the stage with my fellow Pakatan leaders.
Tony Pua speaking on Pakatan Rakyat’s economic polices that will benefit all rakyat. He made a fiery speech opposing the Federal Government’s plan to impose GST tax on the rakyat. I was very impressed by how he could deliver a speech in Malay off the cuff so fluently and I recommend that he gives more ceramah in Malay in future.
Lim Guan Eng shaking hands with supporters.
DAP was only supposed to have 500 delegates just like the other parties. However, these DAP party members from outstation were so eager to be part of this Pakatan Rakyat Convention, they just showed up. As the hall was already packed to the brim, they sat outside the hall and watched the proceedings on a big screen television provided.
Tunku Aziz delivered his speech in English calling for a nation built based on integrity. He said, “We have a country, but not yet a nation because of Barisan Nasional’s policies. When we are in power, we will remove these policies!”
The colourful Pakatan Rakyat banners hanging from the floor above.
Sivakumar giving his speech. The emcee introduced him as “saudara Siva, Speaker DUN Perak yang sah!” and the crowd roared!
Chiew Chin Sing (DAP) the ADUN Kidurong, Sarawak impressed the crowd with his Bahasa Iban!
Pakatan leaders on stage.
Hannah Yeoh said, “No taxation without representation!” and called for everyone to embrace each other’s culture. She also urged us to not be afraid of having local government elections. “We already have the second vote, state level. Now we will go for the first vote for Federal Government and third vote for local council elections!”
Pakatan Rakyat leaders sitting on stage.
Zaid Ibrahim said, “I’m proud of Pakatan!” and “Dulu kita merdeka dari jajahan British, sekarang sudah sampai masa kita merdeka dari UMNO!”
Nik Aziz and Karpal Singh.
Seated on from left to right are Pakatan Leaders saudara Lim Kit Siang, Anwar Ibrahim, Nik Azmi, Karpal Singh, Hadi Awang, Khalid Ibrahim.
Karpal Singh speaks. He criticised the non-independence of judiciary.
Nik Azmi
Anwar Ibrahim said, “Today we give u the policies of Pakatan Rakyat. Barisan Nasional cannot come out with their joint documents.”
All the delegates raise their hands in unanimous support of the common policy framework.
Leaders of the 3 parties signing the common policy framework. This is history in the making.
The press go wild taking photos of this historical moment.
At the end of the convensyen, I took a photo with Keadilan women and in the middle sits Irene Fernandez, a brave woman who founded Tenaganita, an NGO that fights for the rights of women and migrant workers in Malaysia.