GEORGE TOWN – It is premature to dismiss Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) chances in the looming 15th general election seeing the fluidity of the political situation, said a DAP leader.
Strategic planner Liew Chin Tong told The Vibes that all is not lost if all political actors realise that the country could be plunged into more calamity if the court cluster of leaders (Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) return to power.
“There is still hope that some kind of democratic rule fair to all Malaysians can be formulated, and the unreformed and unrepentant Umno will not be allowed to set the pace, tone, and agenda for the rest of the country,” he said.
The former defence deputy minister observed that leaders, including those from PKR, have conceded that it does not look good for PH in the next election after the string of stunning defeats in Sabah, Melaka, Sarawak, and Johor state elections.
Liew pointed out that there is no guarantee that Umno will form the next federal administration.
He said that the Melaka and Johor elections had merely confirmed what PH already knew – that the core support of Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) stands at 40%, seeing that they have led the nation since Malaysia achieved its independence in 1957.
“If we look at the 165 parliamentary seats in the peninsula, Umno-BN is in a relatively comfortable position with about 70 seats. PH has won 55 parliament seats in the peninsula since 2008, 2013, and 2018. Some 65 seats are likely to remain in our hands.”
Liew said that if Umno can be kept at bay from capturing 70 Parliament seats, BN is far from a dominating position.
“I think the winners in Sabah and Sarawak would think twice about inking a pact with the court cluster, especially if the link is fragile. Furthermore, all the promises made to allow those two East Malaysian states more leverage to rule have merely become lip service.”
“We are now in a situation where no one is really dominating. A free and fair election is the concern of everyone, not just the opposition, but the likes of Bersatu, PAS, GPS, GRS and many others. Politics is fluid – that is my point.”
He noted that some within the opposition coalition have thrown in the towel and bought into the narrative of “hopelessness” and a “loss of purpose”.
However, he stressed that this is far from the “truth”, and PH only needs “fair play”.
Liew said that what is important is that everyone who do not want to see the return of the court cluster must work with other like-minded parties, including those from Umno, to ensure a free and fair electoral contest ahead. – The Vibes, April 24, 2022.
