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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance is hit by yet another crisis of confidence. One of its components, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), has threatened to pull out of the alliance in Kedah.
The latest fallout was sparked by the demolition of the state's only pig abattoir – a decision by the state government, led by the conservative Islamic party, PAS.
Pigs are seen as taboo under Islam. The pork industry is, therefore, controversial in Malaysia, where Muslim Malays dominate the population, alongside large Chinese and Indian minorities.
Although the three Pakatan leaders had tried to project a united front this week, signs of cracks within the fledgling coalition have become more obvious.
Barely a week after they met to contain the fallout over talks to form a unity government between PAS and the ruling UMNO party, the leaders are once again at loggerheads.
Chinese-dominated DAP is upset over the demolition of the pig abattoir and a 50 per cent quota for ethnic Malays or bumiputra to get state housing.
Lim Kit Siang, leader of DAP, said: "I'm, of course, shocked by the latest development, which is no less than a second crisis of confidence faced by Pakatan Rakyat. We resolved the first crisis of confidence, but now we are faced with a second one and the question is whether Pakatan can resolve it."
Opposition parliamentary chief Anwar Ibrahim has downplayed the rift, highlighting the common agenda shared by all three parties despite their clear ideological difference.
"I don't think Pakatan is going to crumble over a pig farm. In Pakatan, there are issues which we need to discuss and resolve, but they won't jeopardise our big agenda – rule of law," said Anwar.
As the 61-year-old opposition leader engages in firefighting, all eyes are on a fresh sodomy charge brought against him by his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
Anwar has insisted that the charge is politically motivated – a ploy to end his political career and derail the opposition's plan to topple the government.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court is set to hear his sodomy case, beginning next week, after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal to move the case back to the Sessions Court.
Ahead of that, Anwar has warned that a conviction will only further anger the people and strengthen Pakatan's chances in the next election.
- CNA/AFP/so
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