GEORGE TOWN – DAP and PKR have the most to lose if the two Pakatan Harapan parties cannot resolve their festering spat ahead of the general election, as Penang voters could end up disenchanted with the constant politicking.
Political scientist Sivamurugan Pandian said impartial voters may be disheartened to witness PKR and DAP jostling among themselves for credit over the management of the pandemic.
“While each party has its core supporters, there are more fence-sitters than ever – especially with more youth voters – and they have the power to determine who survives and who falters in the next general election. These are the voters political parties need to take heed of.
“Although I think the current spat is mostly a rift among state excos, it has started to worsen as each side continues to issue rebuttals. If they are not careful, it could escalate into a crisis in Pakatan Harapan (PH),” he told The Vibes.
He added that the public is not bothered about egos and political charades over some miscommunication among Penang leaders on Covid-19 management.
“What the people want is for the pandemic to be contained so they can rebuild their lives. The economy needs attention, besides public healthcare.”
The Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer said he is surprised by how DAP’s Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit and Seri Delima rep Syerleena Abdul Rashid have taken PKR’s health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin to task.
They were not the only ones. Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also questioned Dr Norlela’s handling of the pandemic when Penang saw a surge in cases and deaths.
“This friendly fire among PH parties should end as the people may be turned off by the infighting amid a national crisis.”
He added that it is “suspicious” how several issues are being used at one go against the Penang chief minister, DAP’s Chow Kon Yeow – from the controversial undersea tunnel project to the sudden death of a prominent developer and now, the PKR-DAP spat.
Sivamurugan’s colleague, Prof Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, said criticism on vital issues between PH parties is acceptable in the absence of a solid opposition bloc in the state assembly.
Fauzi said it should not be seen in a negative light, as measured criticism is welcomed within the boundaries of democracy.
For democracy to work effectively, there must be checks and balances. In Penang’s case, it lacks a credible opposition to check the government on its policies.”
He pointed out that only seven out of 40 backbenchers are in the opposition bench, of which five were previously aligned with PH.
“I do not think it will spiral out of control, like what happened in Melaka. Also, PH chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is from Penang. He can return to find a solution if the rift persists here.”
Penang PKR, led by Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, has issued a public statement supporting Dr Norlela and praising her work in reducing the number of Covid-19 cases.
At the same time, some DAP leaders have underlined that it was their own leaders, Phee Boon Poh and Steven Sim Chee Keong, who helped manage the pandemic.
This irked Dr Norlela, who described leaders such as Phee as bullies, to an extent of branding them as sexists and trying to bully a woman doing her job.
The rift is also seen as a continuation of a leaked audio clip in 2008 of then Penang PKR chief Datuk Mansor Othman, who had branded Lim as enjoying an almost “tokong-like” (supremo) status in Penang. – The Vibes, October 10, 2021
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