KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he hopes all parties under opposition coalition, including its newest member, Upko, will use only one shared logo in the next general election.
The PKR president said DAP and Amanah have already agreed to this at a recent meeting in Port Dickson, and he will discuss the matter further with Sabah-based Upko, whose entry into PH was announced on August 26.
“Having one logo has proven to be far more effective than having separate logos,” Anwar said.
“Plus, it may be confusing to the people to have separate logos,” he told a webinar organised by Upko titled “Upko’s Solidarity in Pakatan Harapan’s Struggle” yesterday.
Upko president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau remained quiet but was smiling during Anwar’s remarks, before DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng quickly cut in and said that parties from Sabah and Sarawak have the right to use their own logos.
“The one-logo (suggestion) does not include Sabah and Sarawak. They will have the power to decide because they have the autonomy,” Lim said.
The webinar was also joined by Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
Earlier, Anwar had said that he is happy to have Upko in PH, as it will enable PH to represent more people in Sabah through the multiracial party.
Tangau said that he hopes that by joining PH, he can bring Sabah’s issues to the national level.
“Sabah’s issues, such as the urgent need for decentralisation, should not be seen as just problems faced by Sabah, but as something that will affect the whole country.
“We want to bring our problems, our issues, our fights and ideas to the national level. When we are a member of PH, we can bring Sabah’s perspective to the national level together,” he said.
Upko is the only Sabah-based party in the coalition.
Tangau said Upko’s intention to join PH began gaining steam after the Sabah election in September last year, when he saw that PH could be an alternative choice for Malaysians.
At that time, Upko was contesting under Warisan Plus, which comprised Warisan, PH (PKR, DAP, Amanah) and Upko. – The Vibes, September 5, 2021