PAKATAN Harapan (Pakatan) has no choice but to come together and collectively tackle racial and religious supremacy if it wants to be politically relevant, a vocal critic of the coalition said.
Johor DAP’s outspoken leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau expressed worry over the rise in far-right nationalism and racial supremacy, and how it has impacted democracy.
“Racial and religious supremacists in the country aim to weaken and eliminate pluralist parties,” Boo said when opening the Kulai DAP branch’s annual general meeting today.
“This is especially so for the Malay-majority pluralist parties, which includes PKR and Amanah.
“If these two (Pakatan) component parties are deliberately undermined and even demolished, DAP itself cannot hope for any better outcomes than that.
“Therefore, all component parties in Pakatan must unite and continue to pursue political reforms, and to save Malaysia with another new beacon of hope.”
Boo also said DAP must “lend a helping hand” to other Pakatan component parties that have been “deliberately undermined” by racial and religious supremacists in the country.
“All fraternal parties within Pakatan are interdependent, and if they are not closely united, they will perish together in the next general election,” he warned.
Be vigilant
Boo, who earlier this year called for the party’s then secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to step down, also urged the coalition to stand ready against sabotage, from inside and outside.
Unlike many, the former Johor DAP chief is optimistic that Pakatan can wrest control of Putrajaya again – provided it effectively “re-stragises” its directions and public narratives.
He also said he hopes if Pakatan does return to federal power, it would have a bigger majority and be able to more “smoothly” implement political reforms and empower the rakyat.
After victoriously upseating Barisan Nasional from Putrajaya during the 14th general elections in 2018, Pakatan suffered a major split barely one year later with the exit of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
PPBM then joined ranks with its once arch rival UMNO, and PAS, to form Perikatan Nasional. However, UMNO eventually left and is now back to fighting with PPBM like before.
Last August, Sabah-based United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) joined Pakatan, bringing the total number of coalition members back to four. However, it remains to be seen if Pakatan can get the popular Malay vote without a prominent Malay-based party like PPBM which is crucial to winning.
The 15th general elections must be called by next September. – July 19, 2022
