It seems futile to hang on to Harapan

Ah, Pakatan Harapan, we hardly knew you. One would have hoped the brand new opposition coalition would have lasted at least one electoral cycle, but the current squabbling between PKR and DAP is casting doubts on even that possibility. As the two parties posture and jockey for position in what will now be six contested seats in the Sarawak state election, the national leadership has looked on almost helplessly as more and more people turn away in disgust from the idea of supporting the current opposition.

One does suppose that in the end, the game being played is for the accoutrement of power for party as opposed to coalition. It has been made clear in Sarawak that it is now every party for itself, and even the architect of Save Malaysia, Zaid Ibrahim, seems to have given up hope on PKR, specifically.

Zaid has essentially thrown PKR under the bus with his latest blog post, noting that it is Azmin Ali’s faction that is currently in power in the party. He says “it is not inconceivable that PKR+PAS or PKR+Umno deserters will be on the menu for the consideration of voters” in the coming general election and that DAP and Amanah should form the core of the main opposition coalition while keeping PKR as an ally at arm’s length.

Certainly, many would be inclined to agree with Zaid at this point. Azmin has always been a figure that causes some discomfort among opposition supporters. His part in the ill-fated Kajang Move is well documented, as was his fervent wish to become Menteri Besar of Selangor. Even his eventual ascension has been seen as the end result of manoeuvring and politicking that involved none of the rakyat’s wishes. One distinctly remembers the outcry on social media during the last general election when rumours floated around that Azmin was to take the Menteri Besar spot should Pakatan win the state again.

It is clear now that coalition lines have been flagrantly disregarded, and the Sarawak state election is a free-for-all in six constituencies.

Zaid is right. Forget Pakatan Harapan. The opposition should first gain a mandate before forming “government-in-waiting” alliances. Should the fiasco in Sarawak be replicated on the peninsula in the run-up to GE14, you can be sure that not only will Najib Razak still be PM, but the opposition may find itself paying the price in Parliament.

Indeed, Zaid’s suggestion of a DAP-Amanah centred opposition is intriguing. But the DAP would need to cede equal ground to Amanah in order to make the partnership work. This shouldn’t be too much to ask. Amanah is filled with people of great Malay leadership potential. It is high time they are brought forward.

Mukah Pages bring you trending news media with Free Malaysia Today http://ift.tt/1rm3krb