Harapan needs a political reset, stop wasting time with PN - Guan Eng, Mat Sabu

 

Pakatan Harapan is in need of a political reset following the failure to vote down Budget 2021, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

In a joint statement, the duo said the budget vote on Tuesday showed that there have been no shifts of allegiance from the Perikatan Nasional side and that Harapan should stop wasting time with them.

"Not a single government backbencher voted with Harapan, including those who allegedly support (PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim.

"Clearly, these government backbenchers are adept at playing political games to gain maximum leverage from the PN government.

"This is the reality that Harapan must face, the need for a political reset to focus on uniting our friends amongst the opposition MPs who stood by us on Tuesday," Lim and Mohamad said.

Budget 2021 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, with a bloc vote in the third reading ending with 111 MPs in favour, and 108 MPs against.

The budget is seen as a proxy vote of confidence in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, while also putting pressure on Anwar to prove that he had the numbers to form the new government.

Ketereh MP Annuar Musa claimed that there were efforts in Umno to collect statutory declarations to support Anwar, but this has yet to materialise.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had in October lobbied BN to support the PKR president, as one of three possible options for the former ruling coalition.

Lim and Mohamad noted in their statement that they supported Anwar to be prime minister and that he was given the green light to court PN lawmakers as long as they were not "kleptocrats" like Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

However, the duo said Harapan should no longer waste time with "opportunistic backbenchers", whom they said were trying to exploit the opposition to get "lucrative deals" from the PN government.

Instead, the focus must be on building a more united opposition to face the next general election - which is expected in the first quarter of next year.

"Harapan leaders must put aside past baggage so that Harapan can expand to Harapan Plus with a formidable force of 108 MPs.

"With 108 Harapan Plus MPs as a solid grouping, anything is still possible," they said.

Harapan Plus is the term used to refer to the coalition's loose alliance with opposition parties Warisan, Pejuang, and Muda.

Previously, it was reported that Anwar had offered to resign as opposition leader should he fail to prove he has the numbers in the Dewan Rakyat, although some sources said he was convinced not to.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal, however, is pushing for a change of leadership in the opposition.

Last night, three DAP lawmakers said the opposition was in need of a "new hope" after a poor showing in Parliament. - Mkini