WITH Parti Warisan Negara and Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) forming a pact, a DAP veteran opined the news may put Pakatan Harapan in a quandary due to several reasons.
“The new pact puts Pakatan in Catch 22 situation. If we don’t cooperate with them, the public will accuse us of being against forming a united opposition to take on Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan).
“But if we do cooperate with them, that is also a problem to us. Just because we worked together to take on BN and Perikatan, it doesn’t mean they will work with us after winning the polls,” Ronnie Liu told FocusM.
Yesterday, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal formalised ties with MUDA following the former launching its chapter in Peninsula Malaysia.
“This is the choice we are providing to the people. We are making sure to strengthen our own house first, before looking at others.
“It doesn’t mean our doors are closed. In politics, anything can happen,” Malaysiakini reported the former Sabah chief minister as saying.
It is to note that Warisan and PKR ties have strained following the collapse of the Pakatan Government back in early last year.
This came about after former Pakatan supremo, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad threw his lot behind Shafie to become next prime minister, reneging on his own promise to back PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the top job.
It is not known on how MUDA would approach Pakatan on the matter but it is worth mentioning that its pro-tem president, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, was a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leader during Mahathir’s tenure in the party.
Let’s talk, Guan Eng tells Shafie
On that note, Liu said that if the leaders are truly sincere in uniting the opposition front, both parties should consider joining Pakatan.
“In this way, we become ‘one family’. This will help us in negotiations, including allocation of seats for the next general election.
“But if we are to decide on a pact or cooperation after the polls, we will all be at a losing end,” the Sungai Pelek state assemblyperson mentioned.
On related matter, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said that his party is open to working with Warisan at the coalition level under Pakatan’s “big tent” approach.
“Yes, we have some differences between us but we must be united in our cause to oppose extremism and racism perpetuated by BN and Perikatan to cover up their failures.
“And that is why the DAP views the national launch of Warisan into Peninsula Malaysia positively as part of the electoral process of free democratic participation,” the former finance minister remarked. – Dec 18, 2021
