Pakatan, Barisan leaders should set egos aside, work together: Penang PKR leader

GEORGE TOWN – A senior PKR elected representative has called on both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) to swallow their pride and consider working together for the sake of securing political stability for the people.

“The nation’s political uncertainty has taken too long to be resolved, there is a need for an ‘out of the box’ approach.

“Perhaps certain terms and conditions can be inserted but overall, it is better for PH and BN to collaborate simply because in the past, BN had failed in its partnership with Perikatan Nasional (PN) together with the Borneo bloc.

“I think the partnership with PN only lasted several months. It would have been shorter if not for the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in lockdowns.

“So, why should BN be replicating the same mistakes of the past by collaborating with a coalition that they cannot coexist with?” said Penang PKR legal bureau head Jason Ong Khan Lee.

Furthermore, Ong said that PAS is an integral part of PN, and has often become an aggressor towards non-Muslims in the country.

“From unsettling them with remarks about race to religion, PAS is often a thorn in the side of the non-Muslims. 

“Its unresponsive nature of handling crises is noteworthy.

“So, how can PAS be accepted in any national government when in order to canvas for support, it was willing to insult a big segment of voters here,”' he said.

Ong said it is better to work with parties, who are keen to pursue national unity and high tolerance rather than PAS, as evident by the possibility of PH working with BN, said Ong.

His comments come as reports have emerged that PN has secured adequate support to convince the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that it has the numbers to form the new federal government in the country.

Ong also said that BN is now at the crossroads after losing badly in two consecutive general elections, and if it does not commit to reforms, the coalition may be wiped out when it comes to the next election.

“Who better to partner with than a reformist party,” he added. – The Vibes, November 21, 2022