KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysias opposition parties have denied that they are power crazy for their attempt to wrest back control in parliament, adding that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and its allies must work towards a common ground to reclaim electoral mandate.
The statement, jointly issued by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Monday (Jun 22), came amid a difference of opinion within PH over the candidates for the prime minister post.
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“We have been criticised for not quickly regaining our rightful government and yet when we find the only realistic route left for success we are criticised as power crazy. This is unfair because while we are not afraid to be in opposition, the rakyat (people) voted for us in 2018 to be in government,” the statement read.
PH was voted into Putrajaya in the 2018 general election with Dr Mahathir at the helm, but the administration collapsed in February after Mr Muhyiddin Yassin led Bersatu out of the coalition. Mr Muhyiddin, who is backed by Barisan Nasional and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, was sworn in as Malaysias eighth prime minister leading the Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact.
PH, which finds itself as the opposition coalition again, was strategising its moves to return to federal power but reached a stalemate when component parties and their allies could not agree over the candidacy for premiership.
Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu (middle) shared a photo of him with Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (left) Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong on June 18, 2020. (Photo: Facebook/Mohamad Sabu)
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Amanah and DAP were in favour of bringing Dr Mahathir Mohamad back as prime minister, with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim as his deputy, after Mr Anwar failed to convince the ruling state coalition in Sarawak to back him for the top post.
PKR, however, has rejected the option and insisted that Mr Anwar should be the prime minister if the coalition recaptures Putrajaya.
“Both DAP and Amanah have worked strenuously during the last three months to find a common ground acceptable to all but unfortunately it has not been successful.
“We hope that PKR and Tun (Mahathir) together with Warisan will not drift further apart but instead continue to move closer together. Seeing each other as rivals instead of allies will not help the rakyats (peoples) cause and only aid those who successfully deposed an elected government with an unelected one,” the statement read. Warisan refers to Parti Warisan Sabah.
“Only when we are all on the same page together can we ensure that PH can reclaim the rakyats government,” it added.
READ: KL High Court dismisses Mahathir's application for interim injunction to be recognised as Bersatu chairman
Disclosing the internal discussions leading to them choosing Dr Mahathir over Mr Anwar, Amanah and DAP said they have been consistently supporting Mr Anwar as the prime minister since 1998 and will continue to do so.
However, the only realistic option of success in the current political scenario is to combine the strength of all five parties, namely PKR, Amanah and DAP in PH as well as Warisan and Dr Mahathirs faction of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), they added.
“This political journey has taken 22 years, we can afford to wait another six months to see Datuk Seri Anwar installed as the 10th prime minister of Malaysia. The six months transition shall be documented in writing, signed by all party leaders and publicly announced,” the statement read.
In their Monday statement, Amanan and DAP said even though Dr Mahathir, Warisan and PKR cannot agree with each other, all parties must try to find a common ground to recover the electoral mandate won in the 2018 general election.
The two parties said they are preparing for snap polls while continue to be the “Read More – Source
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