KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan’s leadership is being urged to formally invite other opposition parties to join the coalition ahead of the next general election, following its failed bid to recapture Putrajaya in the wake of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation last week.
In a joint statement, three PH lawmakers – DAP’s Hannah Yeoh, PKR’s Maria Chin Abdullah and Amanah’s senator Raj Munni Sabu – said this would be in line with the stance taken by the coalition to undertake a “big tent” approach.
The MPs said that while the 105 opposition lawmakers who supported PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister – prior to the appointment of Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s appointment – were insufficient, the opposition coalition should build from there.
“After Muhyiddin resigned, Malaysia was forced to face another leadership crisis. Despite PH and other opposition MPs succeeding in naming Anwar as their sole prime ministerial candidate, the 105 support he has was still not enough.
“PH must maintain and strengthen this support. As such, we urge PH to immediately make an official invitation to all opposition parties, namely Warisan, Muda, Pejuang, Upko and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) to join PH.
“The (support of) 105 MPs, as proven on August 18, must be maintained and further refined via a more formal understanding heading into the general election.”
Yeoh, Maria Chin and Raj Munni said that this cooperation is necessary to convince Malaysians that PH remains the best choice to lead the country.
This also follows the PH presidential council’s statement yesterday that it wishes to negotiate and cooperate with other parties under the “big tent” concept in the wider national interest.
The council also maintained its stand that Anwar will continue to lead the coalition as it aims to strengthen itself, adding that preparations are now under way to face the next general election, due by September 2023.
This includes seat negotiations, the drafting of a manifesto, identifying candidates and a leadership line-up, as well as strategies to win the polls.
Following Muhyiddin’s resignation on August 16, Ismail Sabri and Anwar had been the two front-runners to succeed as the country’s ninth prime minister.
Ismail Sabri came out tops after obtaining the backing of 114 MPs, enough to form a majority government.
He was appointed prime minister on Friday, before taking his oath of office the following the day. – The Vibes, August 24, 2021
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