CIVIL society leaders and activists who stood with Pakatan Harapan politicians on various issues are losing hope that the opposition coalition can mount a strong challenge against the ruling Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

The disappointment among veteran activists towards PH has become palpable as the opposition coalition gets bogged down by one internal issue after another, the latest being the acrimony between Bersatu and PKR over who should be its prime minister-designate.

The activists The Malaysian Insight spoke to have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with PH politicians in campaigns for more civil liberties, cleaner elections and human rights.

They believe that the opposition is squandering a historic opportunity to defeat the Najib Razak-led BN with the in-fighting and inability to project itself as a better alternative to the scandal-ridden BN.

What is also galling is that PH is considering fielding 92-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister instead of the scores of younger politicians in its stable.

“Are we so bankrupt as a nation that we can’t find anyone younger to become prime minister,” was how activist Haris Ibrahim put it.

“That we have to turn to the man who ruined the country for 22 years. Are they saying this is the hope for the country?” asked the founder of the Asalkan Bukan Umno (Anything but Umno) movement, which campaigned against BN in 2013.

Prime minister-designate

Reports have emerged that PH parties, PKR, DAP, Amanah and Bersatu have delayed the official registration of office-bearers.

The registration would have enabled PH to present a unified banner, logo and leadership line-up that political analysts have said were critical in convincing voters that it was a viable rival to BN.

A main reason for the delay is that PH parties cannot agree on who should be their prime minister if it wins GE14.

It has emerged that PKR, DAP and Amanah want jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was the 2013 PM designate, but Bersatu is pushing for either its chairman, Dr Mahathir, or president, Muhyiddin Yassin.

Haris, a former lawyer, said PH’s inability to solve the issue of the prime minister-designate confirmed suspicions that its component parties were only interested in power. 

“So where is the hope for the people?”

Civil liberties activist Syahredzan Johan said PH’s failure to project a united leadership is its main weakness and this is being exploited by BN.

“BN will say to voters that no matter our weaknesses, we have a clear structure, unlike PH,” said Syahredzan, a lawyer.

“So people will be tempted to vote for BN as PH is not a real alternative because they can’t even seem to work together.”

For Syahredzan, the issue of the prime minister-designate can be resolved by surrounding the candidate with a strong team.

“Their PM candidate may not have big reform credentials. But if he is supported by a team that has a strong reputation for fighting for human rights and civil liberties, that team is a viable alternative to BN which does not have a track record of supporting those issues.”

BN on the ropes 

This bickering is occurring against a backdrop in which Prime Minister Najib Razak and BN’s favourability rating is among the lowest in history.

A Merdeka Center survey in August 2015 showed that the Najib administration’s approval rating hit an all-time low of 23%. Since then, his numbers have not breached the 30% mark.

Voter anger towards BN is because of, among others, the goods and services tax (GST), ending of sugar and cooking oil subsidies, higher inflation and allegations that Najib was involved in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

“Najib’s crime on grand corruption cannot be condoned and yet PH cannot seem to unite behind this,” said anti-graft campaigner Cynthia Gabriel.

“PH does not seem to be focused on winning elections,” said the co-founder of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

For its part, PH said it is currently fine-tuning its common manifesto and policy platform, and will present it to the public soon.

Electoral reform activist Maria Chin Abdullah said the question is whether PH can present a united front in time to win over voters before the polls are called.

Maria was the only activist interviewed who retained some optimism about PH. – June 8, 2017.