SERDANG – Perikatan National (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has made an eleventh-hour overture to opposition parties to possibly cooperate under one umbrella against their common enemy, Barisan Nasional (BN).
He said with the general election rumoured to be held in the coming weeks or months, other political outfits should consider putting aside any differences to avoid the Umno-led coalition, which has been embroiled in numerous allegations of corruption, returning to federal power.
This is despite Pakatan Harapan (PH) having previously turned down an offer by Muhyiddin to cooperate in the election.
“Previously, several parties wanted to meet us to discuss possible cooperation.
“However, they might have thought that the election is still further away, so they let it be,” he told a press conference today after attending the PN convention here.
“But if they have changed their minds now, with rumours of the election being just around the corner, we are open (to discussions). We know that our common enemy is BN, and their involvement in corruption and power abuse is not good for our country.
“If we have a common goal to prevent the country from falling into further doldrums, leaders from other parties should think about how to avoid this from happening.”
In May, Muhyiddin had said that the coalition is open to working together with PH to ensure a straight fight against BN, but said the ball is in the opposition coalition’s court to decide.
However, several leaders then said there would be no second chances for Muhyiddin, after the latter betrayed and backstabbed PH during the Sheraton Move in February 2020.
Muhyiddin was asked to comment on an earlier remark by PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who said that the coalition would have a better chance of winning the general election if it is assisted by another coalition.
Commenting further, the Pagoh MP said that PN would be willing to compromise if cooperation is required to topple BN, but stressed that this formula would not work if there is no consensus from the other parties.
“If it is impossible to work together, then we have to accept that fact and contest based on our own strengths. Our machinery must be strengthened, and certain strategies must be put in place to ensure that we can win even if there are multi-cornered fights,” he said.
Muhyiddin was coy when pressed if this means PN would shut the door to any potential partnership with BN heading into the general election.
“The question of ifs is a bit difficult. I won’t say we rule out or welcome it. In an unpredictable and dynamic political situation, with internal conflict within Umno, politics is a game of possibilities.” – The Vibes, August 27, 2022
