THE Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election has shown that it is time for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to get a total overhaul, or else be left playing second fiddle to Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Anwar Ibrahim, said Zaid Ibrahim.

The former de facto law minister said that it was time for both Bersatu and PAS to have a new set of leaders, adding that both Muhyiddin Yassin and Abdul Hadi Awang should just step down.

“PAS and Bersatu must now start changing their leaders. Have an extraordinary congress. Bring up a new set of real political leaders who can give Anwar Ibrahim a fight. 

“Otherwise, Anwar will be a supreme leader for a long time; by default,” he said in a post on X today.

He said that Muhyiddin, who is PN chairman, constantly talked about his considerable achievements as a national leader.

“…but that’s in the past. What does he have to offer for the future? Nothing. It’s time he steps down,” said Zaid.

As for Hadi, Zaid said the PAS leader only “talks of the fear of DAP, of what happened to the Malays in Singapore”. 

“The scare tactics no longer work. It’s time he steps down,” he added.

Zaid further said that Bersatu has not been focusing enough to show it is a party of the future, and offered nothing new.

He hit out against the party for bringing a patchwork of political alliances in the form of “lifeless Gerakan and the new Indian party”.

“The Malays in Malaya are now looking for leaders who can help them find a place in the sun, not reminisce. 

“In the absence of that, the Malays always resort to voting for the government of the day. At least they may get a salary increase and a Raya bonus,” he said.

Zaid also said the ulama in PAS should also step aside and give the younger leaders a chance to revitalise the party. 

“Offer the people something new. An Islamic economic model is more suited to help the poorer segment of our country.

“PAS under ulamaks has failed to capitalise on Islam as a social and economic catalyst. 

“PAS has not been able to offer an economic master plan that can win votes. They should stop behaving like a cult movement with stale messages and instead become a dynamic political party that understands the needs of the voters.”

Both Muhyiddin and Hadi are 76 years old. They lead their parties and are also the PN chief and deputy, respectively.

In the by-election yesterday, PH/DAP’s Pang Sock Tao received 14,000 votes to clinch victory with a 3,869-vote majority over PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut (10,131).

Independent Nyau Ke Xin and Hafizah Zainuddin of Parti Rakyat Malaysia lost their deposits.

Perikatan had expected to make an impact in this by-election but in reality, PH enjoyed increased support from all races in the constituency. – May 12, 2024.