Pejuang man laments Harapan sidelined other opposition parties in deal with govt

 

Federal Territories Parti Pejaung Tanah Air (Pejuang) chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan lamented that Pakatan Harapan had sidelined other opposition parties in its negotiations with the government on a confidence and supply deal.

"When the nomination of the prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong came up recently, Harapan leaders came to meet (Pejuang chairperson) Dr Mahathir Mohamad to appeal that he supports (opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim.

"The Harapan leaders appealed, tried to convince and was willing to do anything at the time in order to realise their impossible dream of making the opposition leader the ninth prime minister.

"Now, when it is time to negotiate with the government about the list of reforms proposed by the prime minister, Anwar and Harapan leaders sidelined Pejuang, Warisan and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) who voted together with them to nominate an opposition candidate for prime minister," Khairuddin said in a statement yesterday. 

The opposition had put up a united front to back Anwar who garnered the support of 105 MPs but it fell short of Umno's Ismail Sabri Yaakob's 114.

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah supported neither. There are presently 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat and two vacant seats.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim

Khairuddin accused Anwar and other Harapan leaders of being untrustworthy.

"They used others to gain support for their interest - nothing more than that.

"To me, Anwar and Harapan cannot be made friends. They are insincere and individualistic," he added.

Khairuddin said Pejuang should proceed with its plan to contest 120 parliamentary seats in the next general election.

He believed that Pejuang can benefit if Harapan and the government seal a confidence and supply deal.

Harapan and government leaders are expected to ink a memorandum of understanding today. 

The prime minister has offered various reforms to the opposition in exchange for support in order to ensure political stability due to his slim majority.  - Mkini