'Harapan leaders must explain their formula for PM to grassroots'

The Pakatan Harapan leadership needs to reach out to the grassroots, especially youths, to explain its choice of candidates for the prime minister and deputy posts, PKR national deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin said today.

Afif said PKR's grassroots need time to accept the decision by Harapan's top leadership, although they know that they have to make peace with it for the sake of the nation.

"PKR top leaders need to explain and enlighten the grassroots on why this formula was chosen.

"We may have discussed this issue at (the) party level but PKR has many supporters on the ground and they need clarification on the matter," the Penang executive councillor added.

The Harapan youth meeting prior to the announcement had preferred a younger leader like PKR deputy chief cum Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali (photo) to lead the opposition pact.

But since Harapan's announcement on Sunday offering Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PM, several PKR supporters, including leaders from its Selangor division, have expressed their unhappiness with the decision.

"It's not easy to undo the past 20 years; we need time to accept the decision," Afif told Malaysiakini.

"The Harapan leadership must go to the ground and explain their decision to offer the Bersatu chairperson as prime minister if the coalition wins the 14th general election," he added.

Afif said he was part of the team that supported the move to accept the former prime minister into Harapan, as his agenda was to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and end Umno's supremacy.

"It is a different ball game, now that Mahathir has been chosen to be PM to lead the coalition," added the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.

However, since Harapan has announced its candidates for the posts of prime minister and deputy prime minister (PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail), it is up to the people now to decide if the duo can lead the country.

Afif said Harapan, as a political party, can only offer candidates but the decision is still up to the voters to make their choices at the ballot box.

Yesterday, Amanah Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa (photo) cautioned that the Reformasi movement may be "hampered" by Bersatu playing a larger role in Harapan as his party, DAP and PKR, which are multiracial entities, would have to deal with the Malay psyche that is "a la Umno".

The Reformasi movement gained momentum in 1998, after the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim, the former DPM, by Mahathir himself.

Mahathir has since made a "customary apology", which was accepted by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar (photo).

Afif's remarks come in the wake of Harapan's announcement on Sunday that Bersatu will be contesting the lion's share of the seats in GE14, which must be called by August this year.

Bersatu will contest 52 out of the 165 parliamentary seats in West Malaysia, followed by PKR, which is allocated 51 seats, DAP 35 seats and Amanah 27 seats.

Afif said although PKR members and supporters have countless questions as to why Harapan leaders chose Mahathir as PM, they must focus their sights on winning all the 51 seats allocated to the party.

"Harapan must start a campaign now to ensure that as many people (as possible), especially their supporters, go out to vote.

"Whoever is the PM, we have to work hard to ensure a high turnout on election day, or we will be disadvantaged by a lower turnout," Afif stressed.

-Mkini