[EXCLUSIVE] ‘Big tent’ rejection splits opposition votes, affects GE results: Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR – Rejection of the “big tent” strategy will result in split votes among the opposition parties, thus affecting the results of the 15th General Election (GE15).

In an exclusive with The Vibes’ sister portal Getaran, DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng said the effort to make the “big tent” approach a success was done to unite the opposition bloc in going against Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).  

Therefore, Lim expressed confusion as to why there are sentiments against the strategy. 

He also criticised the sentiments played by a group of PKR members and leaders to repudiate the concept, as well as conditions set by Pejuang for the party to buy into the “big tent” concept. 

“If we go solo, DAP will also face the same problem. That’s why we say we join forces as much as possible. It’s up to you, if you don’t want to,” he told Getaran. 

It is understood that the rejection of the “big tent” idea among PKR members came about recently, after the party’s internal election, thus sending a clear signal that they expect the party to strengthen the existing coalition in Pakatan Harapan (PH).  

For the record, PH comprises PKR, DAP, Amanah and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) while other opposition parties which are not in the alliance are Warisan, Pejuang and Muda. 

Previously, Pasir Gudang MP who is also the former Johor PKR chairman Hassan Abdul Karim reportedly advised his own party to contest solo if necessary in the looming general election.

Elaborating on the matter, Lim said PKR’s performance in the past state elections was seen as disastrous although the party contested under its logo.  

Based on that factor, he said, the opposition bloc needs to combine their strengths the best they can to face the upcoming general election. 

He stressed that if Pejuang refuses to work with PH as long as the alliance is led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, that is the party’s decision. 

Should the offer extended by PH to cooperate were to be rejected by Pejuang and Warisan, the Bagan MP said there is nothing his party could do. 

“Like Pejuang said, it doesn’t want to cooperate with PH as long as Anwar is the chairman. If that is your attitude to not want to cooperate, then you don’t want to work together. 

“We will not beg for it. No,” he stressed. 

The reality, he explained, is that Anwar is the current PH chairman and the coalition is willing to work with opposition parties except with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led Bersatu. 

“But for PH, we feel when we are united, then we are strong again. If you don’t want to, that’s up to you.”

When asked about the perception that DAP is seen closer to Muda which has riffed speculations that it is an attempt to replace PKR in PH with the new party, Lim rubbished such claims. 

“No parties are replacing anyone in PH, but what the focus is is to increase the number of opposition parties in the coalition.” – The Vibes, June 11, 2022