I refer to the Malaysiakini report Anwar now 'in no hurry' to topple BN .

I am pleased that Anwar Ibrahim has had a reality check. Pakatan Rakyat is simply not ready to form the government as it has to provide a realistic and stable alternative to BN’s governance.

There are so many nagging issues which need to be addressed which Pakatan has swept under the carpet in their obsession (mainly Anwar's) to grab power.

Fundamental issues like freedom of worship, equality of the races, a reassessment of the 'social contract' viz a viz a modern democratic state have not been addressed. The rakyat will never support Pakatan which may easily turn into a BN Mark II.

In times of dire economic instability which has the potential to lead to civil strife, Anwar should not play with fire and goad Umno, an already wounded tiger. The March 8 genera election was a cataclysmic event for them and they are still reeling from the shock and humiliation.

Talk of taking over power is not only dangerous but totally unrealistic given the fact that BN Sarawakian and Sabahan politicians have never really cared for their people and have all along been self-serving money grabbers.

This explains the relative poverty of their people in states which have abundant resources. If they are not given any financial reward, why should they cross over? Their bargaining position is much better now as Umno is dependent on them, and as incumbents Umno is in a position to ask them to name their price.

What can Anwar offer them? Remember we are not talking about principled people here.

Furthermore, why should they risk their political careers when PAS has said it will only support Pakatan if the majority of its legislators are Muslim.

Why join Pakatan only to see the government fall because PAS still has a ketuanan mentality. Surely this is not consonant with the ostensible spirit of Pakatan.

Even within PKR there are dangerous fascist elements which Anwar has failed to repudiate. The Anwar stalwart Zulkifli Noordin disgustingly disrupted a Bar Council forum on the important issue of the impact of conversion to Islam in non-Muslim families.

It was an academic discussion to highlight and weigh up the consequences and to offer possible legal provisions to circumnavigate the terrible consequences of a family breakdown due to the conversion to Islam.

How the violent disruption of this open forum is protecting the kesucian of Islam only Zulkifli and Anwar can answer. PKR promised an enquiry and possible disciplinary action against Zulkifli but to date there has only been deafening silence.

In fact, Anwar has gone on record as saying that he is confident that Zulkifli will remain with PKR. If this is not a seal of approval then what is?

Will Pakatan be calling for a change in state constitutions which bar Malaysians to high office because they are not Malay or Muslim? These issues cannot be swept under the carpet and go to the heart of what democracy, equality and being moral and civilised are all about.

Pakatan really needs to come up with a unified and consistent philosophy which is democratic, rejects religious and racial supremacy, promotes religious freedom including the right of Malays who have been declared 'Muslim' by the state against their will, to openly declare their true faith whatever it is.

Not so long ago Hadi Abdul Awang wanted to introduce a Bill in parliament to confer a mandatory death penalty for 'Muslim' apostates. Now how can Pakatan convince the world that it is serious about democracy and freedom when a major partner has views which are a total repudiation of these values?

Pakatan needs time for soul-searching and introspection.