PH lost in Melaka because of ‘same old script’, says ex-deputy minister

 

Former deputy minister Loga Bala Mohan says Pakatan Harapan leaders were saying the same things in Melaka as they did before GE14.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan’s poor performance in Melaka is down to its failure to offer voters anything new and its continued reliance on “the same old script” against its opponents, says a former deputy minister.

Loga Bala Mohan, of myPPP, a former Barisan Nasional component, said the opposition should play its role more effectively in showing how they can do better than those in power.

“In the run-up to the Melaka elections, we heard the opposition, PH and even (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying the same things they did prior to GE14.

“They were attacking Najib (Razak), Barisan Nasional and Umno, calling them all sorts of names. How does that show the people you can make their lives better?” the myPPP senior vice-president said in commenting on the recent elections.

Last week, BN won 21 of the 28 seats up for grabs in Melaka. PH only managed to win five while Perikatan Nasional won two. In GE14, PH won the state with 15 seats.

Loga said PH should have used the Melaka elections as an opportunity to address criticisms it faced during its 22 months in power, and explain to voters what it had learned from its experience and how it will do better.

“But what did they do? For all their criticisms of those who triggered the fall of the PH government in the Sheraton Move, calling people ‘traitors’ and ‘kataks’ (frogs), they took in two Umno defectors.”

He also said the opposition should be more humble and give their opponents credit where it was due, including to Najib.

“Many appreciate Najib’s contributions and policies, like the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project. This featured heavily in the Melaka elections.

“Last time, when PH came to power, they postponed the project but just last month, (former finance minister) Lim Guan Eng urged the government to revive it. So people lose hope when they see the opposition changing their tune.”

He said he hoped PH would work towards being a more mature, objective and effective opposition.

“They had the opportunity to show they can do better, not just at the federal level but in Melaka. Don’t just oppose (the government) for the sake of doing so. If something the government does is good, support it, if it is not, explain why,” he said. - FMT