PKR Youth chief: Time for Harapan to move on from Mahathir

 

PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir believes that Pakatan Harapan should move on rather than trying to revive cooperation with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his allies.

This is after Mahathir yesterday mocked PKR president Anwar Ibrahim for failing to follow through after claiming in September that he had secured a "strong, formidable and convincing" majority to take over Putrajaya.

Akmal, who had also been critical of Anwar for the September announcement, criticised Mahathir for turning a function aimed at briefing supporters about his upcoming Parti Pejuang Tanah Air into a session to bash Anwar.

"Mahathir's attitude appears as if the purpose of Pejuang existence is to discredit Anwar's credibility as the opposition leader and Harapan chairperson," Akmal said in a statement.

Amid pressure from Harapan partners to engage Mahathir, Akmal pointed out that Anwar had softened his stance by expressing a willingness to cooperate with any parties as long as they abided by Harapan's principles.

However, he said Mahathir decided to attack Anwar just two days later. Akmal added that Mahathir should reflect on his own mistakes when he was part of Harapan.

"PKR Youth also feels that the time has come for Harapan to move on from the episode of cooperating with Mahathir.

"Harapan needs to realise that involving Mahathir under the guise of a grand coalition is only an outdated divide and conquer strategy which he has often used.

"It does not make sense if this stale strategy can mislead and break the unity of PKR and Harapan," he said. - Mkini