KUALA LUMPUR – Having gone through 22 months under the stewardship of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Datuk Seri M. Saravanan believes Malaysians long for Barisan Nasional (BN) again.
In a recent interview with The Vibes, the MIC deputy president said since returning to federal power, BN has proven itself to be a stable coalition with an approachable, “baggageless” prime minister in Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
While the political outfit was once detested by the public due the actions of “certain individuals”, he said the situation in the country has only taken a turn for the worse after the administrative change in May 2018.
“Rice has not only turned to porridge, but it has charred. The rakyat has now seen that we don’t need to change the government, but just certain individuals (in position).
“I believe Malaysians won’t want to change governments again. They are comfortable with the current one, what more with a prime minister who is people friendly.
“Lawmakers also find it easy to approach him. Umno has also decided that Ismail Sabri will be the prime minister candidate in the coming election. He doesn’t have any baggage and is a very moderate person. As such, I believe the rakyat will vote for BN.”
Saravanan, who is human resources minister, was asked how important it is that BN be given the mandate to continue ruling the country in the upcoming federal polls, to ensure all its programmes for the people are not discontinued.
If PH wins, infighting will persist
In the 2018 general election, BN was ousted from federal power for the first time in six decades, amid a string of corruption allegations involving then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Despite the promise of multiple reforms, PH only lasted 22 months, as infighting led to the defection of Bersatu and the eventual collapse of the government in February 2020.
For Saravanan, having BN as the government brings with it the promise of stability, something he said the opposition could not offer, going by the recent state elections.
“PH came to administer the nation as one big party, and in two years, they have now been separated into five. Take the Johor election for example, they contested under five different parties.”
During the Johor election last month, PKR, Muda and Pejuang all contested under their party banners, leaving only Amanah and DAP carrying the PH flag.
Bersatu, meanwhile, is now part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition comprising Islamist party PAS and Gerakan.
The parties are currently understood to be actively engaging on the possibility of cooperating under a big tent in facing the looming general election, rumoured to take place by the end of this year.
Saravanan said unlike the opposition, BN’s three main components – Umno, MIC and MCA – have proven over the years to be capable of putting aside any differences for the best interest of the rakyat.
“We have not only remained intact through the good times, but even in tough ones. This has facilitated us whenever we need to make a decision.
“Even if PH wins the election, the same thing will happen again.” – The Vibes, April 30, 2022
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