THE idea that Anwar Ibrahim should not be Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) only candidate for prime minister is being floated after the coalition chairman has failed more than once to fulfil his promises, such as forming a new government, political observers said.

Another possible reason is the PKR president’s inability to resolve infighting within his own party and the PH coalition.

The analysts were responding to the recent suggestion by DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke that PH should put forward other candidates besides Anwar, who is the Port Dickson MP and former deputy prime minister.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar revealed that some PH leaders have compared Anwar’s leadership to that of former PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and found Anwar to be indecisive.

“They said, with Dr Mahathir every meeting will end with a conclusion or a decision, unlike Anwar who will delay or not make any decision.”

“This could be why some leaders want other names put forward. They say that with Dr Mahathir, even when there is a controversial issue, he will reach a decision,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“Look at how PH handled their logo issue. It took them too long to reach an understanding,” Hisommudin said, referring to Anwar’s announcement on October 29 after weeks of deliberation that PH parties would use the coalition logo in the 15th general election. His PKR party had been a major stumbling block to the decision.

Hisommudin added that some see Anwar as incapable of ensuring orderliness between PH parties, especially in Sarawak where there is currently disagreement over seats ahead of the state elections next month.

Anwar has also come under fire after PH lost the November 20 Malacca elections, and PKR failing to secure any seat it contested.

He faced criticism for allowing two of the Malacca assemblymen responsible for the collapse of the state government to contest on the coalition’s ticket.

Anwar has said that accepting them was the idea of Malacca PH leaders, and that he and other national leaders were reluctant, but eventually agreed.

After the Malacca polls, Loke floated the idea of alternative candidates at a Chinese-language forum, and confirmed the same to The Malaysian Insight.

Prior to Loke’s suggestion, Pahang DAP secretary Lee Chin Chen had similarly asked PH to look for fresh blood to replace Anwar, who is 74.

However, it is not just the Malacca elections, Hisommudin said.

Prior to the polls, Anwar has said a few times, at different junctures, that he had the backing from MPs to form a government.

He first said this would happen on September 16, 2008. He also made the claim on more than one occasion last year, in trying to oust then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“He did not deliver – and some are tired of his claims. Nothing has materialised from them,” said Hisommudin.

But, who else?

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) Azmi Hassan concurred with Hisommudin about Anwar’s weaknesses but said throwing more names in the pot would not help PH.

“To have more than one candidate is not the solution. You cannot have more than one because it shows that you are not strong enough.

“While people may have lost interest in Anwar, I do not see anyone else.

“Maybe he can stay on as PH’s leader, but they can also name someone else as PM designate. Like Umno, where Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is president but the prime minister is Ismail Sabri Yaakob,” he added.  

Replace the old guard in PH, too

Azmi’s colleague, Mazlan Ali from UTM, said that Loke should also have asked his seniors in DAP to step down if he wanted Anwar to do the same.

“He needs to be consistent because if he says Anwar must be replaced, it seems like he is attacking Anwar.”

“Replace Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng too (in DAP). Amanah president Mohamad Sabu should go, not just Anwar.”

This is in line with another view among voters and especially urban constituents that Malaysia needs younger leaders, after decades of seeing the same political faces.

Mazlan said the coalition had plenty of capable candidates.

“Adly (Zahari) from Amanah is a good candidate. Saifuddin Nasution or Nurul Izzah Anwar from PKR are two good examples, while Loke himself is also good.”

“Why don’t these people take over?” Mazlan suggested.

Mazlan also cautioned against putting too much weight on calls for Anwar to be replaced, especially if they come from social media users.

“This segment of people only wants brand new stuff, such as new phones, new clothes etc. They think only new leadership can be dynamic,” he said.

In the Malacca election, PH fielded candidates in all 28 seats but won only five. PKR lost all 11 seats it contested, DAP won four, and Amanah, one.

Barisan Nasional secured a comfortable 21 seats (75%), while Perikatan Nasional bagged two. – November 30, 2021.