‘PROFESSIONAL’ GUAN ENG SHOWS THE WAY AS DR M CALLS FOR TEAMWORK: PENANG HARAPAN TO SEND UNRESOLVED SEATS NEGO TO CENTRAL LEADERSHIP WHILE SELANGOR INFIGHTS

The Penang Pakatan Harapan convention tonight did not see the announcement of the state seat distribution but was instead served with a lengthy lecture on closing ranks by coalition chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, who appeared unwell and coughed throughout his speech, impressed upon the delegates that they must set aside their individual party allegiance and support the sole Harapan candidate.

The former prime minister said he had received word that there were those who were not happy about not receiving the seats they wanted and may not support Harapan’s nominated candidate.

“Building a coalition is not easy, for one has one’s own loyalty to one’s party. That is normal… but if we emphasise too much on the loyalty to our respective parties, we cannot stand united.

“If we want to be united, we need to set aside our loyalty to our party and prioritise Harapan,” he said.

Mahathir said such unity was needed more than ever due to the possibility of widespread multi-cornered fights, but he did not specifically mention PAS.

PAS has indicated that it will contest in at least 130 parliamentary seats in the 14th general election.

“There will surely be problems during seat distribution. We will feel disappointed that other parties were allocated the seats we wanted.

“The other parties will also feel disappointed that they could not get all the seats they wanted. But if everyone is not satisfied, then it means we have been fair.

“You will feel unhappy because you are not getting what you think you are entitled to, but that is not as important as winning the election,” Mahathir said at the convention held in Permatang Pauh tonight.

He warned that any Harapan component party that refuses to vote for its partners will result in defeat, which is worse than not being able to contest in the election.

Mahathir said he had also conveyed this message to his own party.

He said there were two categories of voters – the first are party members who can be disciplined to support Harapan candidates.

“I can lecture them to support whichever candidate Harapan nominates.”

However, Mahathir said, the tougher one will be the second category of voters who are not party members.

He said the views of these voters must also be taken into account.

“Their numbers are larger than our party members,” he added.

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the unresolved state seat negotiations in Penang would be forwarded to the central leadership for a resolution.

Last Sunday, the Negeri Sembilan Harapan convention descended into chaos after Bersatu members dissatisfied with the state seat distribution disrupted the event.

Harapan has generally followed by the principle of not redistributing seats already won by existing component parties.

In Penang, DAP and PKR already control 29 out of the 40 seats. This only leaves 11 other seats open for negotiations.

– M’kini