PAKATAN Harapan components must have a strong common message to show the people that the ruling pact is working towards creating strong unity among the Malays, said Liew Chin Tong.

The DAP strategist said it is crucial to tell the voters that the components of the pact are united in their stand because different messages from the various parties could spook voters.

“Pakatan must come out with a strong message on this.

“We must avoid being divided and (show that unity) is possible and can be achieved,” he told The Malaysian Insight recently.  

He was responding to Negri Sembilan Bersatu chief Rais Yatim who said PH must curb the  “impulsive” actions and statements from DAP to change the negative perception Malay voters have of the party.

Rais, a former Umno man, said the antipathy most rural Malay voters feel towards DAP is similar to how they feel about the corruption scandals surrounding some of the Umno leaders.

Rais was talking about PH’s defeat to Barisan Nasional in Semenyih, largely due to lack of Malay support for the ruling coalition.

The various parties in PH have come a long way in terms of mutual understanding and cooperation, Liew said.

Who back then would have thought the PH alliance possible, he said.

“We come from very different backgrounds but we have formed an alliance.

“Previously people were suspicious of DAP and we were branded as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

“But we have formed an alliance with the other parties and won the general election.”

To move forward, they have to come out with a strong message so that the supporters of the individual parties can accept the other parties in the pact, he said.

“It is not going to be easy. We need to craft a common message. If Bersatu has its own message and DAP has its message then there will be trouble.

“We need to find a common theme and not contradict each other. We need a message that can reach all the people.”

On DAP making inroads in the rural areas of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, Liew said the party aims to be more national.

“Nearly 80% of Malaysians are urbanites and 70% of the Malays are urban people except that some of them vote in their hometowns.

“We want to be a national party, we aspire to be a national party, where we have branches and representation everywhere in the country.”

As for the Umno and PAS collaboration, Liew said the two only came together when they started winning by-elections.

“If we put together a strong Malaysian message, then they will have no place. They can only gain traction if we fail to do that.

“Malaysians must come together like they did before the (14^th) general election.

“We have to stand up and say that the way PAS, Umno, MCA and MIC are going, they will destroy the country. We have to come together to save the nation.” – March 11, 2019.