Nga explains why Harapan is mulling an alliance with Umno in Perak

 

Faced with pushback from grassroots supporters, Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming wrote an open letter in Chinese explaining his decision to open negotiations with Umno on the possibility of forming the Perak government.

The DAP deputy secretary-general acknowledged that he had received many messages of support and criticism after announcing that DAP was open to working with Umno.

He also gave his assurance that should an Umno-Pakatan Harapan government materialise in Perak, he won't take up any position in the new state government.

Nga, who also Perak's Aulong assemblyperson and Teluk Intan MP, also stressed that any cooperation with Umno would be conditional and must be based on justice, good governance and multiculturalism.

Explaining his decision to open negotiations, Nga said the 25 seats held by Umno and the 24 seats with Pakatan Harapan would give the new government more than two-thirds majority in the 59-member State Legislative Assembly.

"It will create a strong and stable government," he said, adding that it will also resolve the issue of defections.

Nga said with PAS indicating that it won't participate in the new state government that Umno is trying to form, it would keep "extremism" out.

'A more multiracial government'

He added that an Umno-Harapan cooperation in Perak would also lead to a more multiracial government.

"This is a far cry, compared with the mono-ethnic and mono-religious Perikatan Nasional.

"Apart from ensuring a stability, it can also prevent the government from being held hostage by PAS' extreme populism, the threat to diversity and pressure towards fundamentalism, which are a threat to the secular and pluralistic spirit of the Federal Constitution," he said.

Leow Thye Yih

Nga added that if Umno and Harapan were to cooperate, it could neutralise the demonisation of DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, which would also help race relations.

Furthermore, he said, if the Umno-Harapan cooperation materialises, Harapan will insist that the new menteri besar first goes through a confidence vote in the State Assembly.

This would avoid the notion that it is a backdoor government and set the precedence for proper democratic practice.

Nga, who is the former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, added that if this alliance succeeds in Perak, it could also affect the whole country.

"Negotiations are still ongoing but if an (Umno-Harapan) government is successfully formed, I will not accept any position in the state government," he said.

After Nga announced negotiations on a possible tie-up with Umno, DAP's Pokok Assam assemblyperson Leow Thye Yih rebelled against the decision, vowing not to support an Umno menteri besar. - Mkini