Pakatan on a mission to unite opposition parties

KUALA LUMPUR – Could Malaysia witness a united opposition front contesting in the next general election under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner? 

This appears to be the goal of the coalition as it begins negotiations with other opposition parties, with the national polls due in less than two years. 

Today, the PH presidential council said opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will hold discussions with the leaders of other such parties in the near future. 

This includes inviting them to join or cooperate with PH, it said in a statement today, which was jointly signed by Anwar, who is also PKR president, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu. 

“This is in line with the resolution made during the PH leadership retreat in April, which states its openness to negotiate and work together under the ‘big tent’ approach, for the aim of strengthening the opposition bloc, comprising 105 MPs.” 

If this materialises, the country could see Anwar campaigning with Pejuang’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the same side for the first time since the former’s sacking from cabinet and Umno in 1998. 

While Dr Mahathir did lead PH to its victory in the last general election, Anwar was still serving his prison sentence then and was not directly involved in the campaign. 

Dr Mahathir had initially agreed to hand over the prime ministership within two years of PH being in government, but a power struggle saw the collapse of the administration within just 22 months.

Meanwhile, the PH presidential council said any meetings between Anwar and the other opposition leaders will also discuss current political issues, as well as preparations for the upcoming parliamentary sitting on September 6.

They will also discuss the possibility of a special sitting earlier for a confidence vote on newly minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as well as the appointment of a new deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker following the resignation of Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on Monday. 

“PH’s focus is to ensure we become an effective opposition by raising responsible, constructive criticisms, recommendations and views, besides tabling alternative proposals to government policies. 

“This is especially concerning efforts to address Covid-19, rejuvenating the economy, as well as saving the lives and livelihood of the people.”

The council said the coalition will also prioritise institutional reforms, including to Parliament, fiscal and other legislations, such as Undi18, an anti-hopping act, as well as improvements to the National Recovery Plan and ensuring the independence of the judiciary. – The Vibes, August 25, 2021