‘Zaid too quick to call for Pakatan Harapan’s demise’

Several Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) leaders are not in favour with former law minister Zaid Ibrahim’s suggestion that an opposition pact be formed consisting of only DAP and Amanah.

Amanah central committee member Khalid Samad believes that Zaid had jumped the gun in telling DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to “forget about the electoral pact altogether”.

“It is a little extreme to draw conclusions from the Sarawak state election that a coalition between PKR, DAP, and Amanah is no longer worth the effort,” said Khalid to Malaysiakini.

“We must understand the circumstances and conditions behind Pakatan Harapan’s formation and the intricacies involved,” he said, adding the coalition was less than a year old and had even faced opposition to its formation.

Admitting that the overlapping seat claims between PKR and DAP in the Sarawak state election were a disappointment, Khalid however pointed out how the situation in the state is unique as both parties have equally strong claims on some of the seats.

“This has been acknowledged all along so much so that when we wanted to form Pakatan Harapan, there were a few who suggested we wait until after the Sarawak state election, predicting correctly that there would be contests between Pakatan Harapan members during the election, given the circumstances,” said Khalid.

The coalition, however, went ahead because it believed the problem could be managed and even if it did happen, it would not spell the end of Pakatan Harapan.

“So, although it is a shortcoming and a fault, it is by no way necessarily fatal. Unless of course, if one wants to use it as an excuse to kill the coalition,” he said.

S’wak an acid test for Harapan

The Shah Alam lawmaker however denied that he was insinuating that Zaid was trying to use this as an excuse to kill the coalition.

“I am suggesting that it takes more than that to necessitate a divorce. The coalition is a must as all three parties have their strengths and areas of influence.

“We just have to improve a little bit more in order to be ready for the next general elections,” he said.

Zaid, on Thursday, had pointed out the electoral pact did not work in the last general elections and has not worked in the Sarawak election.

“The best hope for a truly believable opposition pact is between DAP and Amanah,” Zaid argued.

The former PKR leader was responding to the seat dispute between DAP and PKR in the Sarawak state election, which had become fodder for their political rivals, as both Pakatan Harapan allies blame each other for the imbroglio.

Meanwhile, Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa echoed his colleague’s stance that Zaid was being premature in declaring the death of Pakatan.

“He has all the right to be concerned but it is us (Pakatan Harapan) who decide.

“I think Zaid is not aware of whatever we are doing in strengthening Pakatan Harapan,” said Mujahid.

The Parit Buntar MP is even of the opinion that what had transpired in Sarawak could be a test to the agreement signed by PKR, DAP, and Amanah.

“Everything is stated there (in the agreement), like if we have circumstances like what happened in Sarawak, what are our options, and how do we solve the problem.” -Mkini