THE rakyat can always remove Pakatan Harapan (PH) if the opposition coalition fails to fulfil its manifesto upon coming into power, PH deputy president Mohamad Sabu said. 

“We want the people to be educated, to see what is good and what is bad. If you see that we cannot deliver our promises when we rule the country, cannot keep our manifesto promises, you have the power to make changes in the future,” he told a forum on strategic partnership to remove the Barisan Nasional government at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall yesterday night. 

The Amanah president better known as Mat Sabu said the opposition coalition could only prove itself if the people gave it a chance.

Moreover, he said, it was important that there was a change of government as BN had ruled for far too long.

“I’m not saying that when we take over (Putrajaya) the corruption will be zero, no. I’m not sure about that, maybe can be worse.

“But once you have changed the government, the process to change the government again will be easier. To change the first one is the hardest, the second, third will be easier,” he said, adding that the 14th general election, which must be called by August, was the time to do it.

“When you change the government and if they deliver (their promises) you can support them again but if the new government is worse, then you can change them,” he said. 

The forum, which was organised by Indian pressure group, Hindraf, also featured Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Waythamoorthy reiterated the group’s plan to be a PH partner, pledging to support and campaign for the coalition in the next general election. 

“Since resigning, I have been going to the rural areas, meeting people, talking to them and listening to their issues. All of them have one thing in common, they want to see Indian representation in PH. 

“That’s why I began the negotiation with PH leadership, for Hindraf to be accepted as the fifth coalition partner,” he said, while admitting he had made a mistake in signing a memorandum of understanding with Prime Minister Najib Razak prior to the 13th general election to support BN. 

After GE13, Waythamoorthy was made deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, but he resigned in 2014, citing the government’s failure to keep its promise to help the Indian community

He said Hindraf would officially apply to join PH in the coming weeks. 

“I can assure you that with Hindraf on the ground campaining for PH, we can deliver 31 parliamentary seats and 59 state seats,” he said. 

Zaid, meanwhile, was for Hindraf joining PH,saying the group had an important role to play and would contribute much.

“Hindraf support is very important. I hope we don’t repeat the mistake of the past of not wanting to work with Hindraf,” he said adding that although PH had managed to take over two states, it also had to think about the country. 

“The whole country can only be changed if you capture Putrajaya,” he said. – September 13, 2017.