Opposition must decide on leader soon and focus on GE15 - Hassan

 

The opposition must decide on who should lead them and be their next prime minister candidate soon, said Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim.

This is because they must make preparations for the next general election now that they have failed to defeat Budget 2021, he said.

"There needs to be a discussion among top leaders, party presidents. There needs to be consensus to determine who should be chosen (to lead).

"They can't wait long, it must be solved soon," he told Malaysiakini.

Budget 2021 was passed yesterday, with the final bloc vote ending with 111 MPs in favour, and 108 MPs against.

The budget had been seen as a test on whether PKR president Anwar Ibrahim could prove that he had the numbers to take over as prime minister.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal last week also made overtures, urging the opposition to choose new leadership, while positioning himself to be that new option.

For Hassan, Anwar is the best choice to be prime minister.

"Anwar should be chosen as the PM candidate for the grand coalition of Harapan and other opposition parties," he said.

The PKR lawmaker said Harapan must also build a clear narrative why in the next election, the people should vote for Harapan+ with Anwar as the prime minister candidate.

At the same time, the former ruling coalition must craft a new common platform, while also improving ties with other opposition parties. - Mkini