THE gains made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) from PKR MPs who have defected or become independents can be wiped out if a sizeable number of Umno lawmakers turn their backs on the government, said Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy.

“The overall situation is not one that favours (Prime Minister) Muhyiddin (Yassin) or the PN government.

“Muhyiddin knows this, but pretends by only reporting the savoury part of the information (on more defections).

“If Umno MPs, at least a sizeable number, take the ultimate decision to desert Muhyiddin, then the defections from PKR will be nothing but a Pyrrhic victory,” the DAP central committee member said in a statement today.

A Pyrrhic victory is one that comes at a great cost, even making the ordeal to win not worth it.

Ramasamy said although more defections from PKR are widely expected, things are still uncertain.

Supporters of former PKR president Azmin Ali, who are still in the party, might quit, but on the other hand, Azmin could also be running out of ideas to pull members away, Ramasamy said.

“While on one hand he (recently) got the support of the three former PKR MPs, it is not certain that more will be following the footsteps of the three,” he said, referring to PKR vice president and Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong.

All three are now government-friendly independent lawmakers.

Ramasamy added the possibility of Muhyiddin being “checkmated” by Umno is a “time-bomb that is slowly ticking”.

So far, 14 PKR lawmakers have quit the party since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government last year.

But Umno and Muhyiddin’s Bersatu are on a collision course, as the former has decided it will not collaborate with PN in the 15th general election. – March 16, 2021.