Anwar has misread his audience, says Ruslan

The Star Newspaper / 8 March 2008
 

SEREMBAN: One of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former staunch supporters said the PKR de facto leader has misjudged the audience at his ceramah.

Lawyer Ruslan Kassim, one of the founder members of Parti Keadilan, said this has led Anwar to believe that he had a large following and could harbour the ambition of becoming prime minister.

He said Anwar's oratory skills might have pulled the crowds but the turnout it did not mean that the PKR had a strong following.

"The people merely want to listen to him making his speech," he said.

"The party is no longer relevant today. I am among the founders of the party and drafted the party constitution.

"Keadilan's main mission initially was to free Anwar. Now he is free, so what is there to fight for?" he said.

Ruslan was asked to comment on Anwar's statement to the foreign media in Singapore on Thursday that the Opposition would deny the Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority and only an election fraud could stop the opposition from achieving it.

"Anwar is highly ambitious but he should know that it is no longer possible for him to become prime minister after being expelled from Umno.

"History has proven that the prime minister must come from within Umno," he said.

On his move to leave Keadilan about four years ago, Ruslan said the reasons were because of nepotism and Anwar's attitude. — Bernama