SHAH ALAM – Pakatan Harapan (PH) can prevent multi-cornered fights and reduce split votes among a politically fatigued electorate by including Muda in the coalition, DAP grassroots members say.
Those met at DAP’s special congress yesterday told The Vibes that the admission of Muda – whose bid to join PH has rankled PKR – would be better for the coalition as a whole.
However, those who oppose Muda joining cited the fledgling party’s clash with PKR in the Larkin seat during the Johor election earlier this year, which led to Barisan Nasional (BN) winning the seat.
The DAP members acknowledged the complexities of seat negotiations and called for compromises to be made if Muda is to be accepted into PH.
“It is very unfortunate what happened in Larkin during the Johor election. We understand why our friends in PKR are very careful in this situation.
But tragically, Larkin should be used as a lesson for everyone in PH.
“Perhaps at the time (during the Johor election), despite ongoing negotiations, (Muda) felt it needed to make its presence felt,” said a DAP delegate who asked to remain unnamed.
Other delegates spoken to also did so under condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to affect the ongoing negotiations on Muda’s potential admission.
The same delegate said a plus side to accepting Muda would be that the youth-based party would then be obliged to abide by PH’s decisions on various matters, including seat allocations.
“(Muda) will be bound by the collective decisions reached by PH,” the delegate said.
Muda’s face-off with PKR in Larkin was part of a six-cornered fight for the seat, which was won by BN’s Mohd Hairi Mad Shah – who took 16,053 votes, or just under 42% of votes cast.
The split voting saw PKR take around 16% of total votes cast and Muda around 12%. Muda fielded Rasid Abu Bakar who garnered 4,948 votes compared to the 6,448 votes obtained by PKR’s Dr Zamil Najwah Arbain.
DAP and Amanah, however, were able to reach a consensus with Muda in the Johor polls. DAP gave way to Muda in Machap and Bukit Permai, while Amanah gave Muda the Puteri Wangsa, Tenang, Bukit Kepong, and Parit Raja seats.
Muda won only the Puteri Wangsa seat and managed to come in second in Tenang.
Since Muda president and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announced in early September his party’s intention to formally join PH, Muda has been criticised – mainly by PKR voices – for being greedy and wanting to leech off a more established party. Bersatu’s treachery towards PH in the Sheraton Move in 2020 has also been cited as a reason for caution.
The PH presidential council, meanwhile, has yet to decide on Muda’s admission but has formed a task force to negotiate with the young party – and also with Parti Sosialis Malaysia – on potential political cooperation in the upcoming national polls.
Another DAP delegate at the special congress yesterday said Muda’s inclusion in PH was necessary to unite different voter bases under one coalition.
“We don’t view (Muda) as a youth party per se, or that it has the monopoly of votes from young people. The youth wings in PH are also very formidable.
But (Muda) does have a strong following and carries itself in a way that appeals to a lot of young Malaysians.
“Practically speaking, it is better that all of these support bases are included in PH. Wouldn’t this just increase our chance to win in the coming general election, or any elections for that matter?”
The DAP member, who is familiar with PH’s election groundwork in Selangor, expressed hope that PH would quickly come to a decision on admitting Muda, as voters are tired of “political drama”.
The same delegate acknowledged some criticism that Muda can appear “politically immature” but said the party should be given time.
“It is still better that they stand with us,” the delegate said.
Voters are just tired of all the unnecessary drama, to be honest. We should just work things out and work them out fast and quietly.
“Acting with ego and saying that they are young and inexperienced is very dismissive. It is almost the same as Umno’s attempts to demonise DAP.
“We shouldn’t take part in such behaviour.” – The Vibes, September 26, 2022
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