PERAK DAP’s plans to work with Umno to form a new state government has drawn derision from social-media users, who slammed the Pakatan Harapan party’s change in stance and willing to join forces with its sworn enemy.

Twitter users questioned Perak DAP chairman and Aulong assemblyman Nga Kor Ming’s tweet on the party’s willingness to work with any party to form a multiracial, strong and stable state government.

“In view of the current political crisis, Perak needs a multiracial, clean, strong & stable government based on the principle of integrity & good governance. I am prepared to work with anyone who share this vision.Are u ready?” Nga, who is also Teluk Intan MP, tweeted while tagging DAP, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Reacting to this, social-media users questioned DAP’s change in stance towards Umno, which it fought against in the last six decades and criticised or corruption, cronyism and poor governance.

“What the heck, talking about betrayal? This is the real betrayal,” a user with the handle Anonymity tweeted.

Some users also questioned Umno’s sincerity and called for caution in any alliance with the Malay nationalist party, while others said Nga’s proposal shows that all political parties put their interests and survival ahead of the electorate.

“Is Umno sincere in its fight? People are busy focusing on the budget but they are busy changing the MB (menteri besar) here and there. Who is the traitor?

“Be it Umno, Bersatu, PKR, DAP Amanah, PAS, all are willing to sacrifice anything for political power,” a user called Qaseh_Khadeijah tweeted.

The changing of the menteri besar is in reference of a motion of confidence brought by an Umno assemblyman against Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu last Friday, which he lost. Faizal, who is also Bersatu deputy president, resigned from the post on Saturday.

Faizal’s ouster comes as tensions heighten between Umno and Bersatu at the federal level, even though both parties are in government together, and amid speculation that Umno is making moves to topple Bersatu-led state governments.

Moves are reportedly afoot by Umno to nominate Perak Umno liaison chief Saarani Mohamad as the new menteri besar.

But Barisan Nasional has only 25 assemblymen in the 59-seat Perak assembly, and will need the support of other parties to form a new state government.

Zahid said yesterday there may be a new political alignment in Perak following the ouster of Faizal.

DAP members, meanwhile, criticised Nga for proposing an alliance with Umno in Perak and he later published an open letter in the Chinese media to explain his proposal.

He said the combined number of state seats in an alliance with Umno would give PH and Umno more than a two-thirds majority in the Perak assembly.

This would create a strong and stable government and address the problem of possible defections.

Furthermore, with PAS having declared that it won’t participate in the new state government, an Umno-PH alliance would “keep extremism out”, he said, and enable the state government to be more multiracial.

Nga also pledged not to take up any exco position, stressing that DAP’s cooperation with Umno would be conditional and based on “justice, good governance and multiculturalism”. – December 7, 2020.