KUALA LUMPUR – Certain Pakatan Harapan grassroots members are at odds with one another over the possibility of teaming up with Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno to capture Putrajaya.
At a meeting with BN leaders, former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak put forward a suggestion that the pact work with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but without DAP in the picture.
Despite the idea being set aside by the Umno Supreme Council, some DAP and PKR grassroots members are torn between the prospects of having PH return to government and working with an arch-rival.
PKR member Mikhael Iskhandaar told The Vibes that Najib’s call is a step in the right direction as it can lead to reconciliation between PH and Umno, adding that such a cooperation has to be worked out diplomatically.
“When Najib gives this kind of signal, it is leading to reconciliation. This is what we call coexistence. After Tuanku (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) issued his decree, this happened.
“So, coexistence can happen between Anwar and Najib. That is a good direction,” he said, referring to the king’s decree to politicians on Sunday to stop politicking and focus on mitigating the spread of Covid-19.
On Umno’s refusal to work with DAP, Mikhael said all three parties have to set aside their “ego” when ironing out issues.
“Now, Najib says he doesn’t want DAP. Okay. No problem. But who has the numbers and can work with it without the party (DAP)? Perikatan Nasional, too, have their own parties working as a single entity.
“Maybe, there can be diplomatic talks between the party leaders. Get DAP, PKR and Umno to discuss this issue. A reconciliation can create diplomacy between the parties. However, if ego comes into play, I think the reconciliation won’t happen.
“So, the basis of their discussion must be the people’s welfare. If we remove ego from the equation, we can work for a better nation while carrying out His Majesty’s decree. That’s the better move.”
Another PKR member, however, shunned the idea of working with the very same political outfit that her party worked hard to defeat in the 2018 general election.
She said there is always the possibility of Umno backstabbing PKR if things go wrong, especially given the animosity between them.
She pointed to the difficulties faced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration in working with Umno, including unending demands for more positions in the government and government-linked companies,and the possibility of having criminal charges against party bigwigs like Najib and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dropped.
“This has left me wary of Umno’s greed.”
Meanwhile, a DAP member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted that some of his party colleagues, too, are split when it comes to political cooperation with their long-time nemesis.
“The grassroots… It depends on who you ask, but generally, it’s complex because there are grassroots who feel that we should go back to leading the government, and it doesn’t matter who we cooperate with.
“But, they said that they can only accept a temporary arrangement with Umno until the pandemic is over, while the second school of thought draws the red line at Umno.
“A permanent arrangement with Umno, while not impossible, must be very carefully thought out. Ideally, it should not include controversial individuals.”
He said his personal opinion is that party members should be open to cooperation with Umno if it will help resolve the current political impasse, which has put the brakes on the country’s ability to deal with the virus crisis.
Some DAP leaders such as Tony Pua have openly expressed disgust at the prospect of working with Najib.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the Damansara MP said he would never sign up for such a government, and accused the Pekan lawmaker of being the country’s biggest crook, having burdened Malaysians with tens of billions in debt.
“A government who has to depend on Najib's support can go to hell. We already see that happening for the traitors in PN.” – The Vibes, October 27, 2020
