International daily The Wall Street Journal has reported that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sought former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla to broker an accord with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the 13th general election.
However, the Opposition leader turned his back on the peace deal, Jusuf told the paper in a recent interview.
He said Anwar had approached him about an agreement two months ago and they met at his Jakarta home, where the PKR adviser asked him to reach out to Najib and secure his (the prime minister's) commitment for a peaceful election outcome.
Jusuf, who had brokered peace agreements in various conflicts across the Indonesian archipelago during his time as vice-president from 2004 to 2009 and also had roles in peace negotiations in Thailand and Sri Lanka, said he shuttled back and forth between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to meet both Anwar and Najib.
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However, the Opposition's decision to push public protests against the results of the May 5 polls went against the agreement, Jusuf told the paper.
“The outcome of the balloting was clear. We had a commitment. On Monday (the day after the polls), I asked Anwar to accept it and to look at reality.
“But they said, No, no, no, no'.”
Jusuf expressed his fears to the paper that growing tension between the Opposition and the ruling party could lead to factions among the Muslims in Malaysia and between the Malays and the Chinese and, perhaps, also lead to violence.
The Wall Street Journal also quoted Anwar and officials close to Najib as confirming the deal, though Anwar was reported to have said that it was the Barisan that had reneged on the pact by demonising Pakatan Rakyat leaders in the mainstream media.
Meanwhile, Anwar, speaking to reporters here yesterday, denied he reneged on the peace pact brokered by Jusuf.
“As I had clarified, he (Jusuf) came into the country about a month before the election and met Najib and me where some parameters were agreed upon.
“However, these were not adhered too,” he said after attending PKR's 9th Congress.
The conditions included free and fair elections, free access to the media, implementation of reforms proposed by election watchdog group Bersih including no demonising of opponents via the media or witch hunt after the polls results.
“To then come back and say forget all the other conditions and just accept where there is clear massive rigging and fraud, is very difficult.”
