PKR youth members are not keen on working with Muda under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner for the upcoming general election.

They told The Malaysian Insight that Muda’s move to stand against PKR in the recent Johor elections still rankled, more so when that resulted in PKR’s defeat.

“Before working together with Muda, we have to look at the sentiments of the grassroots,” said PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abdul Halim.

He said Muda’s actions during the Johor polls are still in the memories of PKR members.

“That is what complicates the decision. So in terms of that, there has been some good and bad experience working with Muda.

“But time must be given for the grassroots and also other parties (in PH) to make a decision because when it comes to GE15, we want to work on the grassroots,” he said.

Earlier this week, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the party was keen to join PH.

He said he and fellow leaders had been in informal discussions with their contemporaries in the opposition coalition.

“Initial talks about Muda joining PH have taken place, and our party is also open to holding official talks with its presidential council,” he had said.

The party is no stranger to working with PH parties, having reached an agreement with the DAP and Amanah to work together in the Johor elections.

Muda contested in seven seats in Johor polls but in Larkin it also went against PKR, which was confident of winning the seat. However, Umno’s Mohd Hairi Mad Shah emerged victorious.

Muda known for flip-flopping

PKR Youth strategy director Bryan Ng Yih Miin said his party has valid reasons not to work with Muda.

“They (Muda) have been issuing some statements that they want to contest in seats like Petaling Jaya, which is held by PKR. They have also been very demanding by simply putting things out for the media.

“There must be a closed-door discussion on things like this, not openly put on Twitter. There’s no maturity from them when it comes to things like this,” he said.

He also referred to the Larkin incident as a core reason for the hesitation on working with Muda.

“In Larkin, they went against PKR. That particular seat, before nomination, had been agreed for PKR, but then they suddenly made their own decision to contest against us.

“You can’t make a unilateral decision and tell the whole world without consulting us if we are to work together,” said Ng, who is also Petaling Jaya PKR Youth chief.

Sungai Buloh PKR Youth member Wan Raimy, 33, said he would rather not have Muda join the coalition.

“They are not consistent at all. During the Malacca polls they called PH ‘frogs’, then in Johor they wanted to work together but challenged us in Larkin,” he said.

He also said Muda has so far failed to show that it can bring in the support of young voters. 

“The youth Muda attracts are mostly in the upper class of T20.

“A majority of them don’t even speak the national language, so how can we expect them to help us campaign in rural areas?” asked Wan Raimy.

PKR member Khairil Arif said there are several ex-PKR members who are now in Muda, and that he will not accept them.

“This is because there is no assurance they would remain under PH if something doesn’t go their way.”

However, he said, in order to defeat Umno in the elections, they have no choice but to work together.

“As long as they come in with an intention of defeating Umno and not backstabbing us, we will work together.”

On Friday, PKR chief and PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim said the coalition would discuss Muda’s request to join PH as soon as possible. – September 11, 2022.