Pakatan door still open to Dr Mahathir

Khoo Gek San Khoo Gek San Updated 3 years ago · Published on 9 Jul 2020 11:00AM · 3 Comments

Deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming says it’s good to learn from Sabah and Sarawak’s culture of ethnic and religious harmony. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 9, 2020.

PAKATAN Harapan’s door is always open to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said senior DAP leader Nga Kor Ming, despite the coalition picking Anwar Ibrahim as its prime minister candidate.

Nga, who is deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker, said PH must also unite all segments of society, especially Sabahans and Sarawakians, if it hopes to regain power either through a reverse coup or through elections.

The Perak DAP chairman said the coalition is also preparing for the possibility of snap polls in the latter half of the year.

In a joint interview with the Chinese language media, Nga said PH must work with all forces which subscribe to its principles and struggles.

“Pakatan Harapan must stay close to its principles and positions. As long as Dr Mahathir supports our position, why should we close the door to him?” said Nga.

PH, of which the DAP is a member along with Amanah and PKR, on Monday named PKR president Anwar as its choice of prime minister if it regains federal power.

This followed weeks of negotiations and jostling between parties and its allies Warisan and a faction of Bersatu led by Dr Mahathir, who was PH’s prime minister from May 2018 to February.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the PKR headquarters in June. The former prime minister remains a powerful force in the opposition. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 9, 2020.
PH, which won the 14th general election, was replaced in late February by elements of Bersatu loyal to its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, and PKR lawmakers who support its former No. 2 Azmin Ali.

Muhyiddin and Azmin then formed the Perikatan Nasional coalition with former political rivals Umno, PAS and Sarawakian coalition GPS.

Dr Mahathir and Anwar have attempted to claw back enough support from a majority of MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat to force a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin.

But the two have disagreed on the choice of PM candidate for this initiative called “Pakatan Plus”, with Dr Mahathir proposing Warisan president Shafie Apdal and Anwar nominating himself.

With its Monday decision, PH also authorised Anwar to negotiate with Warisan and other Sabah and Sarawak parties on the prospects of mounting a reverse coup.

Nga said even if Pakatan Plus does not succeed, its parties need to build an effective electoral pact to contest against PN in the next general election.

This is so that PH parties do not contest against Warisan, which currently rules Sabah.

“Pakatan must combine the power of the East Malaysian political parties and learn from their culture of ethnic and religious harmony, which we need.

“And even if we cannot get back to power in the short term, the three parties will unite to prepare for the next general election.” – July 9, 2020.

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Comments

  • This should be the way. Don't follow the wrong way of doing things to regain power. If Malays in PN are fond if corruption and abuse of power, let them be, the Malays eventually suffer more than others.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Work hard. You should have done it since May 2018. Better late than never.

    Posted 3 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • "... Pakatan Harapan must stay close to its principles and positions...." YB Nga, is part of your principles is to stay loyal to a lame horse?? DAP has been supporting Anwar for 20+ years during which time a lot has happened. Do you still have to keep supporting him when it is obvious that he does not have the support to retake the Govt from PN. Anwar is taking DAP's support for granted instead of having to earn it. Its about time DAP grow some backbone.

    Politics is seldom about honesty, principles, fair play, commitment etc.... At least its not yet in Malaysia unfortunately. The way PN took over the Govt doesn't fit any of your idealistic criteria. I can bet you that come GE15, the voters will vote them in comfortably as PH has one very selfish, egoistic leader.

    DAP and Amanah need to wake up and get real with their association with Anwar. Your consensus based decision making process is merely a disguised veto power to PKR. What PKR wants, PKR gets. The episode with the PM candidate is a stark example. PKR just stood their ground on wanting Anwar as PM candidate eventhough he cannot get the requisite majority.

    PKR or Anwar wouldn't even allow Tun M to try to garner majority. What have you got to lose? Or is PKR/Anwar afraid that Tun will actually succeed. So they cajole and bash DAP and Amanah into supporting Anwar with some mighty powerful twisted logic and you 2 parties caved in. Grow a spine la please..

    Posted 3 years ago by Super Duper · Reply