PAKATAN Harapan grassroots leaders in at least five states are unhappy with the leaders appointed by the coalition’s core leadership, but are willing to put aside their disagreements to work towards wresting control of Putrajaya in the coming elections.

The Malaysian Insight was made aware that the five states are Malacca, Perak, Terengganu, Kedah and Kelantan.

Malacca was “assigned” to Amanah, which meant that Amanah leader Adly Zahari was appointed as PH chairman in the state.

However, many state PKR leaders were hoping for PKR deputy president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin to be appointed state PH chairman.

Shamsul said he would be lying to say he did not feel shunned by not being appointed state PH chief.

“Still, we need to be big-hearted about it,” the Bukit Katil MP told The Malaysian Insight.

“I urge all our friends to be big-hearted in accepting the decisions made by our central leadership.

“Let’s look at the bigger picture, which is to win the next election.”

Unhappy states

In Perak, PH is led by Bersatu state chairman Faizal Azumu, a relative newcomer when compared with several veteran Amanah leaders, including former Perak menteri besar Mohamed Nizar Jamaludin and party deputy president Mujahid Yusof.

In Terengganu, PKR had hoped that the state’s party chairman, Azan Ismail, would lead the opposition bloc. However, the state was handed to Amanah, leading to the appointment of Terengganu Amanah chairmnn Raja Bahrin Shah.

In neighbouring Kelantan, Husam Musa’s appointment as state PH chief was meant to be announced by PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad on August 25, but was delayed.

In Kedah, PKR had hoped that Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul would be appointed Kedah PH chair. However, former Kedah menteri besar and Bersatus state chairman Mukhriz Mahathir has been appointed to lead the coalition in the state.

Shamsul, who has been made the state’s information chief, admitted that there was some level of discontent among the states’ grassroots leaders, but said it was a normal for a coalition with a healthy level of democracy to have room for disagreement.

“We all want to win the coming election. So, all these little disagreements must be swept aside,” he said.

‘United front key’

Adly said he was confident that if PH parties could convince the people of Malacca that they were united, voters would support the coalition.

“The interesting thing about the people of Malacca is that they won’t gamble their future with a government that is not united,” he said.

Malacca DAP chairman Tey Kok Kiew, who supports Adly’s appointment, said the 15% shift of Malay votes in the state to PH will enable the new coalition to take over the state.

“The Mahathir factor, rising cost of living, 1MDB and Rosmah Mansor (the prime minister’s wife) are all factors that will lead the people of Malacca to support PH,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Malacca Bersatu chairman Mohd Redhuan agreed that all parties in PH had their strengths, and that they should focus on building the coalition instead of their individual parties.

“The important thing is to win; Bersatu, Amanah and PKR need to strengthen their parties, while DAP needs to maintain its strength.

“If we can do this, and by showing the prioritisation of Malay Islamic values, I am certain that PH will win in the next elections.”

Adly admitted that his appointment had sparked several negative reactions among PH state leaders, but said he would work hard at proving the central leadership’s faith in him.

“Malacca is a state with potential, with Amanah’s stable and efficient structure, 40% of PAS members and leaders have joined us, and 30% more support it. Only about 30% of PAS members have stuck to the party,” said the former Malacca PAS chief.

In past elections, PAS contested the most number of seats among opposition parties in Malacca, with 13 state seats and one parliamentary seat. PKR contested seven state seats and one parliamentary seat, while DAP contested eight state seats and two parliamentary seats.

DAP won the most number of seats with a parliamentary seat and six state seats. PKR won a parliamentary seat, while PAS won a state seat. 

“Malacca has six parliamentary seats and 28 state seats. We will divide this up almost equally in the next elections,” said Adly.

PH’s plans

He also outlined four main areas of growth in the state, including increasing the state’s income by plugging leakages caused by corruption and inefficiency.

“This way, we will increase the help for the people who need it,” he said.

PH also said they would focus on the issue of housing for the people because the Malacca government currently paid too much attention on housing projects for the upper class.

“We will focus on medium-cost and low-cost housing,” said Adly.

PH also aims to create more jobs for the younger generation, including developing the tourism industry in the rural areas of Malacca.

“All this while, the travel industry has only benefitted the people in the city area, whereas those in the rural areas have not benefitted.

“So, we will produce tourism products to help those in  rural areas.”  – September 19, 2017.