PAKATAN Harapan may lose more core supporters if it uses the “big tent” approach in the next general election (GE), said Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang.

“This is because the PH and Perikatan Nasional ideologies are vastly different,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“If it was that easy or for the sake of power, PH can also partner with Barisan Nasional.”

Chang was explaining one of the main differences between PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s approach to politics.

Chang will be defending his position as one of four vice-presidents in the upcoming party polls.

Rafizi, who made a comeback to politics, will go against PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution for the deputy president position.

Rafizi has ruled out any electoral collaboration with PN, but Saifuddin Nasution said the party should keep its options open after it suffered crushing defeat in the Malacca and Johor polls.

Barisan Nasional won with two-thirds majority in both state elections, despite winning less than half of the votes as PH and PN cancelled out each other.

This prompted PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to approach other political parties to forge an alliance to deny BN.

Except for Saifuddin Nasution, other political leaders have rejected his suggestion, after Muhyiddin “betrayed” PH via the Sheraton Move in 2020. These other leaders include Pejuang’s Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP’s Lim Guan Eng.

Chang said: “I have to reject this (partnership) as a former Perak assemblyman who saw PH betrayed twice (2009 and 2020).”

Chang was Teja assemblyman in 2008 and 2013.

He said collaboration with PN is a mistake that PH cannot repeat after what happened in 2020.

Non-transferable

While PH and PN both stand to lose or aggravate their core supporters, Chang said he does not believe these supporters are “transferable”.

“Can a PAS supporter vote for an Amanah candidate after what happened between the two parties? Or can a PH supporter vote for a PN candidate? I don’t think so.

“This is different from 2013, when Pakatan Rakyat included PAS. One plus one in politics is not necessarily two.”

Chang said PKR has lost some of its shine since 2018, when it won GE14.

He added that he believes Rafizi has what it takes to recover voter confidence not only for PKR, but also PH.

On the Johor polls, Chang said PH and PKR both suffered heavy losses.

“The difference is that DAP had a strong 10,000-vote margin to defend than us.”

He said PKR won by 137 votes despite a 10,057 margin in Bukit Batu in 2018.

“Muda and DAP also faced similar problems in Puteri Wangsa and Perling.”

Muda won by 7,114 votes in Puteri Wangsa defending a 24,959-vote margin, while DAP won by 3,347 votes in Perling defending a 19,533-vote margin.

“These are drops of more than 10,000 votes,” said Chang.

While a PN collaboration may improve some votes, he said it may not necessarily result in victories. – April 30, 2022.