Tian Chua: Stay focus Pakatan or lose the next GE
This was the stern reminder from PKR Vice-President Tian Chua over the current public tiff between DAP and PKR, the two long-time partners in the Federal Opposition coalition.
He said the choices were simple.
“We can continue to have disagreements in public and then say ‘bye bye’ to winning in the coming general elections, or follow the call of PAS Number 2 Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for a ceasefire within the Opposition pact,” he told FMT.
He said the Opposition must remember that its original plan was to defeat its common enemy, Barisan Nasional.
The Batu MP said for a start, there should be a ceasefire between parties as proposed by Tuan Ibrahim two weeks ago, and then move on to the drawing board to iron out their differences.
“We have to remain united. The pact is not about DAP or PKR. It is about being united with PAS, Mahathir’s (Mohamad) new party, Muhyiddin (Yassin), and everyone under the Opposition pact.
“We must remember it is not about what the pact wants. It is about the rakyat. If we fail to fulfil what the people want, that is to be strong and united, then we will lose miserably,” he said.
Tian Chua was asked on the chances of Pakatan Harapan winning in the next general election, especially after the worsening row between DAP and PKR over the decision to call for a snap election in Penang.
On Wednesday, Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua openly expressed his disappointment over actions by “friends” in a Facebook posting, clearly hitting out at PKR’s decision to snub the proposed snap polls in Penang.
His public airing of a “friend’s betrayal” earned a rebuke from PKR legal adviser Latheefa Koya, who was disappointed with Pua and his party for not consulting PKR before suggesting that a snap election be held.
Tian Chua said in any party, there would be misunderstandings. However, he said, efforts must be taken to achieve unity, failing which the Opposition pact can say “bye bye” in the next general election as the Pakatan partners would have alienated the rakyat with their disagreements.
He advised everyone who did not want to see BN continue holding power after the next general election, to remain united and continue to hold talks with one aim, to defeat the ruling government.
“We have to be on the same page. That is what the rakyat want us to do,” he added.
On July 15, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced he would start a new political party that would work with other Opposition parties to topple Prime Minister Najib Razak’s BN government.
Mahathir had said the new party would provide a platform for those who were against Najib, but who were unwilling to join the existing Opposition parties.
Post a Comment