PAKATAN’S N-DAY U-TURN

Opposition changes tune after being criticised

Pakatan Rakyat states have reversed a decision to use three different National Day themes after strong criticism.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat states have reversed an earlier decision to use three different National Day themes following strong criticism.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said Kedah and Kelantan have agreed to accept Pakatan’s common theme ‘Sebangsa Senegara Sejiwa’ (One Nation, One Country, One Soul).

“There is no element of force. All have agreed to use a common theme although the respective executive councils had earlier decided on different themes,” he said yesterday.

He had earlier told Harakah Daily website that the change in stand on the themes showed that democracy was alive in Pakatan.

Mustafa is also expected to announce Pakatan’s alternative Merdeka Day logo and theme song today.

On Aug 1, a tripartite Pakatan Rakyat committee chaired by Mustafa had announced its National Day theme which was selected from 250 proposals received from the public.

Pakatan had come up with the theme as an alternative to the Government’s Janji Ditepati theme, which it claimed was the theme of the Barisan campaign for the general election.

However, the three states had already decided on a theme for their respective states.

Kedah chose ‘Terus Berbakti’, Kelantan went with ‘Menerajui Perubahan’ while Penang opted for ‘Budaya Bersih, Merdekakan Rakyat’ as its theme.

Kedah’s choice: Some of the banners bearing the theme ‘55 Tahun Merdeka Terus Berbakti’ put up by Kedah state government in front of Zahir Mosque along Lebuhraya Darul Aman, Alor Setar, Kedah.