ANWAR Ibrahim has met the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to prove that he has enough support to form the next government.

Save for Anwar himself and those in his inner circle, nobody knows for sure if he has the numbers for real. If he has, good for him, otherwise, he’d just live with the ignominy of pulling the “I have the numbers” stunt one too many times unsuccessfully.

My concern is not so much with whether or not Anwar has the numbers, but where the DAP stands in the midst of the political wheeling and dealing. For the longest time, I have been a staunch supporter of the party.

With 42 MPs, it is the single party with the largest chunk of federal lawmakers. And unlike Umno which has many factions, DAP is one solid bloc.

DAP harbours hopes of returning to Putrajaya, given its short 22-month stint there. After all, 2018 was the first time the party made inroads into the federal government since its formation in 1965.

But at what cost does it want to return to power? Is the party willing to sacrifice its principles by joining forces with the likes of Najib Razak and Zahid Hamidi, whom the party had vilified for years, if not decades?

To be fair, Anwar has yet to reveal if Umno MPs above and others like Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Bung Mokhtar Radin – all facing corruption charges – are in the PKR president’s list of supporters to be the country’s ninth PM.

But it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that they are. These are the people who stand to gain by cutting deals with Anwar. Umno MPs who hold government or GLC posts  would likely prefer the status quo.

Yesterday, Najib in a Facebook posting already said that surely DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would be pleased to work with Umno. Whether that was said in jest or otherwise, that prospect is indeed terrifying!

If the DAP chooses to side with the likes of Bossku and Zahid, the latter facing a record 87 corruption charges, the party will lose its huge support in the next general election. Consider this a warning shot from a staunch supporter.

There are some lines that cannot be crossed no matter what and some principles that cannot be bent, not even for expediency’s sake. As it is, DAP was already seen to be overly bending backwards during its short stint in power, such as its restraint in voicing opposition to the Perhimpunan Maruah Melayu gathering.

The DAP had better heed the warning about working with the devil. If they do, the retribution at the ballot box will be swift, decisive and definitely agonising. – October 15, 2020.

* Chuan Lik Yong reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.