WITH Pakatan Harapan leaders seemingly at odds with each other on cooperating with Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan) to take on Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) urged the former to learn from history.
“I recall DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng saying that if your friend betrays you the first time, it is his fault.
“But if it happens the second time, it is our fault and we should be blamed for our foolishness for believing them the second time.
“And what Lim said it true. We should never allow the traitors like former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and their ilk to return to our fold after the Sheraton Move,” Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) chairman V Pappa Raidu told FocusM.
In an interview with Malaysiakini recently, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was in support for a “big tent” approach to take on BN in the upcoming 15th General Election.
However, the former deputy prime minister raised eyebrows ashe was coy when asked whether he would consider cooperating with Muhyiddin and Bersatu again, citing it was important to make peace if the situation involves national interest.
Two days ago, Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub urged Pakatan leadership to be open to holding discussions with all Opposition bloc parties, including Perikatan.
However, newly-minted DAP secretary general Anthony Loke was not having any of it and called out Salahuddin, urging the latter to discuss such matters with the presidential council instead of making media statements.
Touching on the matter, Pappa Raidu reminded Pakatan leaders of the drubbing it received in four state by-elections, which meant that voters wanted the coalition to offer real change premised on principled politics.
People want principled politics
He added that while it was understandable on why Pakatan wanted to regain federal powers, working with “traitors” would only undermine the coalition’s credibility further.
“And what makes us so sure that Muhyiddin, Azmin and their ilk will not attempt Sheraton Move 2.0 after we win the general election? Does Pakatan want to put the people into another round of trauma caused by political opportunists?” Pappa Raidu queried.
The NGO leader also reminded Pakatan of the wild accusations and insults levelled against the Opposition by Bersatu leaders, despite being allies in the past.
“Therefore, I wish to caution those who wish to ‘cuddle’ with the ‘traitors’ to think twice before making any decision.
“Any decision to involve such leaders with Pakatan will not only affect the Opposition but Malaysians at large too, should anything go wrong in the future,” Pappa Raidu concluded. – April 23, 2022
