[VIDEO] Some call me traitor, others hail me as hero: Idris Haron 

MELAKA – Labelled as a traitor even among his Pakatan Harapan (PH) partners, Datuk Seri Idris Haron finally took to responding to the brickbats he has been receiving since he was nominated as a PKR candidate for the Melaka polls. 

The former Umno man and ex-Melaka chief minister said that while certain quarters see him as a political “frog”, there are many others who regard him as a “hero” for taking a hard stand against the administration under the stewardship of Umno’s Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. 

Idris maintained that his action to pull support for the state leadership last month – triggering the state election today – was necessary to put an end to all the wrongdoings committed by Sulaiman’s administration. 

“The term ‘traitor’ is often levelled at anyone who does not favour a particular group. I have been labelled one four times actually…it’s been so many times. I don’t feel bad because it is their perspective. 

“But to the perspective of others, they call me a struggler, a hero,” he said during an interview with The Vibes in Asahan, the constituency he is currently contesting. 

“They see that I was not happy with all the malpractice in the (Umno) government, so I withdrew support so the government would collapse and we can build a new one. But it didn’t happen.” 

Idris said while he is aware that certain PH members are of the opinion that PKR’s decision to field him in the election is wrong, he does not want to dwell on the matter and instead wants to focus his efforts in ensuring his capture of the Umno-stronghold Asahan seat. 

“I will not be good enough for PH alone. There has to be at least 15 of us (winning) to form a better government, a group of YBs who can really materialise good governance for the betterment of the people.

“I wouldn’t be bothered with all these allegations (against me) because my focus now is to win the election.”

Idris has been the target of DAP and PH-friendly Muda since it was rumoured that PKR would be taking him in as a candidate for the Melaka polls. Confirmation of his nomination last week added further tension within the opposition coalition. 

Several top DAP leaders, including secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and national organising secretary Anthony Loke, have been steadfast in rejecting any of the four assemblymen who withdrew support for Sulaiman and caused the collapse of the Umno government. 

The “Melaka four” pulled the plug on the state leadership early last month, citing a loss of confidence. However, last-ditch attempts to form a new government together with PH parties failed to materialise, before the election was called. 

No regrets, Umno govt needed to be taught a lesson

Acknowledging public outrage against him for triggering the state polls amid a health pandemic, Idris said he had no regrets doing what he did, as he could not just sit and watch the transgressions committed by the Sulaiman-led government. 

He believes that the action of the “Melaka four” was only meant to offer the people of the state a better and brighter future, and dismissed any suggestion that it was for his political mileage. 

“When I first took measures to do what I did, I felt I had completed a huge task. I saw lots of wrongdoings, malpractice, discriminations, and intervention by unnecessary people within the government. So I believe this is the only way. 

“The least I could do is to teach them some lessons, and at the same time give the people of Melaka a new (beginning).”

When asked about calls from certain parties to have him nominated as PH’s candidate for the chief minister post, Idris was quick to sidestep those speculations, and reiterated PH’s priority of first winning the election. 

He said this is particularly seeing that the polls will not be as smooth-sailing for the coalition as some supporters made it out to be. 

Presently, PH Melaka chief Adly Zahari – who helmed the state temporarily from May 2018 to March 2020 – is tipped to again lead the coalition should it win the election. 

Idris said that while there are many who believe a three-cornered fight between PH, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional will benefit the former, this is not exactly the case, as votes from former PH component Bersatu will now be gone. 

“That is why I said we cannot be overconfident. It is an uphill task. We hope the sentiment of corruption, discrimination, and incompetency of the former administration will help us cross the bridge and form a better government.” – The Vibes, November 10, 2021