KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders and political observers have hailed PKR’s move to reappoint Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as its secretary-general, as the opposition moves to present itself as a cohesive coalition in the forthcoming 15th general election (GE15).
Saifuddin, a veteran PKR personality, is known for his conciliatory approach to resolving any potential disagreements among the allies in the coalition.
This is especially so as the opposition bloc has been walking a tightrope following the infamous Sheraton Move, a series of defeats in the Johor, Melaka, Sabah, and Sarawak state elections, as well as several by-elections.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said Saifuddin played a key role in maintaining ties between his party and other allies from Amanah and Upko.
“Yes, Saifuddin plays an important role within PH. He is a consensus builder,” Loke told The Vibes when contacted yesterday.
Asked whether Saifuddin would be one of the first PKR leaders that he would contact regarding PH affairs, Anthony said Saifuddin is among the primary politicians to be reached.
“We have worked together over the years,” he said.
Loke’s DAP comrade, Ong Kian Ming, who is the MP for Bangi, echoed the party leader’s remark.
“Saifuddin is a well-respected leader among the PH opposition and knows how to deal with various leaders within the PH secretariat and presidential council,” Ong said.
I am confident that he will play an effective role in guiding PH through various important steps, including on seat negotiation, PH logo, and also the PH action plan for GE15.
On July 21, Saifuddin was retained as the party’s secretary-general while Nurul Izzah Anwar completed her comeback to the PKR leadership following her appointment as party vice-president.
He had earlier been pipped to the deputy president’s post in the party’s elections by Rafizi Ramli.
Amanah supreme council member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin was more reserved in commenting on the internal affairs of other PH parties, as Saifuddin’s appointment was at the discretion of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and was upheld and respected by party members.
However, Hanipa said he sincerely believed that Anwar may have deeply considered all the merits and demerits involved before ultimately deciding to appoint Saifuddin.
“After all, Saifuddin is not a complete novice in politics, let alone in PKR’s politics. I believe he (Saifuddin) knows every nook and cranny of PKR’s internal politics,” Hanipa, who is Sepang MP, told The Vibes.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may have duly considered his vast experience as well, which would be necessary for helping PKR face the upcoming elections.
Hanipa also said that he believed that Saifuddin’s appointment, coupled with Rafizi Ramli’s role as the elected PKR deputy president, would act as a “great booster for the coalition vis-à-vis the upcoming election.”
Meanwhile, Upko president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau noted that Saifuddin is integral to ties between the coalition members.
“There is no denying that (Saifuddin is important). He was instrumental in PH. He facilitated a lot of things (when Upko joined PH),” Tangau said.
“His appointment is a good development because we have grown used to working together.”
However, Tangau, who has been leading the Sabah-based party since 2014, said that Saifuddin may not necessarily be needed for negotiations on seat allocations involving Upko in the state.
“On seat allocations, we want to be doing this positively. We don’t want to be fighting (between partners). (This is) Because we should only contest seats that we think we can win.”
Asset for PKR in liaising with coalition allies: observers
Meanwhile, political observer, Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia, agreed with comments about Saifuddin being a key leader as a long-time party and opposition stalwart.
“He’s a good person to have in a coalition like PH,” Azmil noted.
His experience and rapport with other PH leaders will minimise internal disagreements within PH and help the coalition to become more cohesive as it moves towards GE15,” Azmil said.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Azmi Hassan said Saifuddin’s conciliatory demeanour will be an asset for PKR in liaising with their allies in PH, especially Amanah and DAP.
“One thing for sure is that this appointment is part of a strategy to bring together the PKR leaders following the internal elections, which saw Rafizi take the number two post (defeating Saifuddin),” Azmi noted.
“This is a compromise between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Rafizi’s camps. You can also see this (appointment of Saifuddin) as some sort of reconciliation within PKR, and less about PKR facing its PH partners.” – The Vibes, August 9, 2022
Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong
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