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Synopsis :

The third in a series of five programmes on the Malaysian General Election 2008. In this edition, the spotlight falls on the opposition coalition comprising  Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam SeMalaysia or PAS. They have made a pact to have straight fights against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in all constituencies to deny the BN from getting a two-thirds majority in Parliament. In the programme, Keadilan leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks of the opposition's aim to improve accountability and craft a Malaysian economic agenda that is non-discriminatory and supported by all. Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to the DAP's Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng says that at the state level, the opposition will pursue their own objectives. The DAP will highlight the BN's failings on urban issues, inflation and crime and focus on Penang which has a Chinese majority. Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Deputy President of PAS outlines his party's objective to retain the state of Kelantan and recapture Terengganu which it lost to the BN in 2004. Keadilan candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar who is Anwar's daughter  says that the opposition will make headway because of strong non-Malay sentiments against the ruling party. Analysts feel that the opposition is unlikely to harp on race and religion during the campaign to avoid polarising voters.