COMPROMISES must be made if Pakatan Harapan (PH) is to work with smaller opposition parties to reach their goal of presenting a united opposition front in the next general election, analysts and lawmakers said.

This move, they said, will allow PH and the other opposition parties to find common ground to work together and avoid multiple cornered fights in the 15th general election (GE15).

Ilham Centre director Hisommudin Bakar said the cooperation could see PH win more seats in GE15.

“With this cooperation under PH’s ‘Big Tent’, PH Plus can avoid multiple cornered fights. This will in turn help them win more seats as they will not be competing against each other,” Hisomuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

The PH presidential council had said the coalition will be taking an open approach to negotiations and collaborations under the “Big Tent” concept to overcome political games and manoeuvring.

They said the effort to pool strength under the approach was based on its reformation agenda and in the interest of the people’s welfare.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, and Amanah senator Raj Munni Sabu also urged PH to invite other opposition parties to strengthen the pact.

Yeoh suggested that PH officially send invites to all opposition parties, consisting of Warisan, Muda, Pejuang, Upko, and Parti Sarawak Bersatu, to join the coalition.

Hisommudin said convincing Pejuang, Muda, and Warisan to join PH will also come down to seat negotiations.

“If they are successful in seat negotiations, this is a huge victory for PH in the upcoming GE, which will be the toughest in history,” he added.

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said by joining PH, the smaller opposition parties also stand to gain some advantages.

“As is true with a coalition of political parties, being part of a coalition can benefit a party through (the) pooling of resources especially during an election,” he said

Tunku Mohar, however, cautioned that whether parties can work together is contingent on whether there is a consensus on their vision, policies, and electoral advantage.

Strength in numbers 

“Newer opposition parties such as Pejuang and Muda are still calculating either to go (at) it alone in the next elections or align themselves with an established coalition,” he said.

Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the question is not what PH has to forgo to entice the smaller opposition parties, but rather, what the smaller political parties can stand to gain from working with PH.

“Pejuang and Warisan must consider whether they are willing to compromise by making the decision to not be the dominant party in PH given that they are small and inconsequential without PH.

“They need to realise by joining with PH, the coalition’s machinery will be made available to them during the election,” he said.

Awang Azman said these parties have been reluctant to join forces with PH as the coalition is still under the leadership of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, a leader they once ridiculed.

“They find it difficult to accept working with Anwar; they once betrayed, ridiculed and belittled PH under his leadership but since then, PH has gotten stronger and gained the support of the people,” he added.

Hisommudin, however, said it was because the parties are loyal to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Parties such as Pejuang and Warisan are tied to the leadership of Dr Mahathir. As all are aware, Anwar and Dr Mahathir have a shaky relationship,” Hisommudin said.

Replacing Anwar as PM candidate

When asked if PH will be willing to replace Anwar with another prime minister candidate, the analyst said given the short time frame of less than 20 months, it will prove difficult for a new face to take over the leadership.

“PH is still pinning its hope on Anwar although it is evident he has failed to take over the government that was voted in by the people in GE14,” Hisommudin said.

“There is also not enough time to prop up a new leader and they will not have enough time to explain to the voters (why Anwar was replaced). The safest option is to retain Anwar though he is losing his shine,” he added.

Tunku Mohar said there is a small chance that Warisan’s Mohd Shafie Apdal can be considered as a prime minister candidate, but that is subject to him holding the same vision as PH.

“A compromise on leadership would require confidence that whoever is named to be a PM candidate can uphold PH’s vision and policies.

“If Shafie is someone who can carry these out, there’s a possibility that he could be accepted as a PM candidate,” he said.

Demands not barrier to working together

Petaling Jaya lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah, who yesterday called on PH to formally extend an invite to smaller opposition parties to join forces, said given there will be always be demands in any coalition, they must not be regarded as a hindrance to cooperation.

“In any coalition, we have to see what the demands are and not see that as a barrier towards working together.

“What is important is that we have 105 MPs, and it’s important for the opposition bloc to be together when we are coming into the Parliament session,” she said.

She added that these compromises are not sacrifices but rather negotiations between party leaders in terms of each other’s positions and issues they champion.

“It will be good if they can join PH. We should work towards a strong opposition bloc,” said Maria. – August 26, 2021.