SHAH ALAM – PKR advisory chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail appears to be on the fence over the “big tent” approach involving other opposition parties in facing the looming 15th general election (GE15).
Wan Azizah, in a press conference at the Wanita PKR congress this morning, alluded that she is opting to err on the side of caution and to adopt a wait-and-see approach before committing to the concept.
“I will have to look at the situation,” she said at a presser after delivering her speech at the party’s congress.
“Big tent or not, we have pros and cons. If they want the ‘big tent’ but wish to topple it, then there’s no need for it.”
While she did not divulge names, she is probably alluding to Bersatu – a former component party of Pakatan Harapan (PH) – which quit the coalition during the Sheraton Move in 2020 and subsequently brought about the fall of the PH administration.
Previously, newly elected deputy president Rafizi Ramli had openly criticised the “big tent” approach, despite it supposedly being backed by certain segments within the party.
On the campaign trail, Rafizi said such a move would require PKR to embrace politicians who were not favoured by the public, and urged the party to prioritise strengthening itself.
It is widely touted that Rafizi’s principles to not cooperate with other parties under a “big tent” approach in facing GE15 may have been the deciding factor in securing his landslide victory in the PKR deputy president race. – The Vibes, July 15, 2022
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