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		Coalition of The Opposition Parties in Malaysia Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the issue of the Coalition of the Opposition Parties on 29 May 1999.
		Today, the mass media carry the news about the 45th Pas Muktamar (Congress), mentioning the coalition of DAP, PAS, Keadilan, Parti Rakyat and Non-Government Organizations to face the BN in the general elections at the end of the 20th Century. The media list multiple stumbling blocks for the coalition such as Islamic State and the PAS President's saying that DAP Secretary-General Lim Kit Siang cannot become the Prime Minister. Although these are hot topics, they are not the main issues. Clearly, BN has overwhelming advantage over the opposition parties. For example, as the Government, it has the money, machinery and manpower as well as various tactics including gerrymander in the delineation of electoral boundaries and the constraints on the mass media. These were evident during the landslide victory of BN over opposition parties in the 1995 general elections in which it obtains five-sixth majority in Parliament. But, the 1999/2000 political and economic situation is uncertain. Certain things are very bad for the BN. These include the economic crisis, the black eye of the former Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar, the jailing of Lim Guan Eng, the viral epidemic and the weaknesses of the Government such as corruption and favouritism. The component parties of BN like UMNO have serious internal conflicts and confusion. Although their leaders are trying their best to patch these up, they are having difficulties. For the first				time in the Malaysian history, opposition parties are able to cooperate on major issues such as the fight for justice, the eradication of corruption, the upholding of human rights and the protection of environment. This cooperation augurs well. DAP has openly stressed to PAS that it opposes the establishment of an Islamic State. On the other hand, PAS does not agree with DAP's Secular State. BN leaders continue to exploit these differences. The system in this country is based on the Federal Constitution that is drafted for parliamentary democracy. It overrides all laws in the land. As long as it is not annulled, no political party can implement an Islamic State. To amend the Constitution requires two-third majority. But to annul it would need more than two-third majority, perhaps a referendum. In the population, in which non-Muslim constitutes nearly half the population, the annulment of the Constitution does not arise. As expected, BN leaders bring up the issues such as Islamic State and Malaysian Malaysia to frighten the voters. On the other hand, we will use all legitimate methods to explain to the people the misleading statements of BN and the urgent need to deny it the two-third majority in Parliament. The dictatorship of the BN must be broken. The people must not give the Government absolute power because this type of power is bad for them. We will continue to carry this message to the public. Dr Tan Seng Giaw



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